M’S Won’t Deal Johnson, Other Big-Money Stars

The Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night took pitching ace Randy Johnson and their other high-salaried players off the trade market.

“We have no intention of trading Randy Johnson. He is our No. 1 starter and one of the premier pitchers in the game today,” Mariners chairman John Ellis said. “In addition, we have no current plans to make other trades unless we believe we can strengthen our club and improve our chances of winning in 1995 and beyond.”

Johnson, No. 2 pitcher Chris Bosio and third baseman Edgar Martinez have all been the subject of trade rumors since spring training for the regular players began April 7.

Manager Lou Piniella had said the rumors were distracting players from concentrating on the regular season.

“We’ve got to get these distractions completely behind us to give this team a chance to focus on getting ready for the championship season,” Piniella said Monday.

Johnson, the highest-priced Mariner with a $4 million salary, seemed particularly upset. On Monday he criticized general manager Woody Woodward’s handling of the situation and declared he “would prefer to be traded” if it weren’t for his teammates.

Johnson and the other players weren’t available for comment late Tuesday.

Woodward said it was time to concentrate on baseball.

“I’m glad this is behind us and I hope the players are, too. Now, they can talk about other things. Let’s go for it,” he said.

The Mariners’ current player payroll is about $33 million, almost $4 million over budget. With Tuesday night’s announcement, the owners essentially agreed to bite the bullet this year and leave the team intact.

Giants rip Mariners

Matt Williams homered to lead off the second inning and right-hander Mike Portugal pitched five scoreless innings Tuesday as the San Francisco Giants beat the Seattle Mariners 16-1 in Peoria, Ariz.

Williams hit his second home run of the spring off Chris Bosio (0-2).

San Francisco (5-1) added two runs in the third inning off Bosio. Robbie Thompson drove in a run with a double, scoring Darren Lewis from first base, and the other came as Williams grounded into a basesloaded double play.

A walk and five straight hits produced five runs in the fifth inning off left-hander John Cummings, a candidate for the fifth spot in the Mariners’ starting rotation.

Lewis walked, Thompson doubled and both scored on a double by Barry Bonds. Williams and Glennallen Hill singled to load the bases, J.R. Phillips singled home two runs and catcher Kirt Manwaring capped the rally with a two-out single to left.

Before the game, the Mariners sent five players to the minors - pitchers Scott Davison and Tim Harikkala and catcher Chris Widger to Class AAA Tacoma, pitcher Derek Lowe to Class AA Port City, N.C., and pitcher John Estes to Class A Wisconson.