M’S, Orioles Talking Trade

The performance of Chris Bosio on Sunday left the Mariners’ pitching picture far from settled. It may have increased the possibility the team will trade for a starting pitcher.

Although Lou Piniella thinks Bosio, who gave up seven runs in the second inning, could work things out with a few more appearances, he would still like to see something happen.

“We’re going to sort things out here over the next few days,” Piniella said referring to Wednesday’s trading deadline.

One scenario which increasingly appears likely is a deal with the Baltimore Orioles, who are lagging far behind the New York Yankees in the American League East.

Baltimore’s director of player development, Syd Thrift, was at Cheney Stadium this weekend, apparently getting a personal look at catcher Chris Widger and infielder Desi Relaford.

The two prospects are the likely ransom to liberate Orioles lefty David Wells for the rest of the season.

The Baltimore Sun reported Sunday that Thrift and Piniella “spoke at length” Friday and a deal will come if Baltimore feels it can’t catch New York and two prospects would better serve the team’s future.

Injury update

Outfielder Jay Buhner sat out Sunday’s game to rest a sore hip flexor. He will skip Seattle’s exhibition game Monday with the Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and will likely start Tuesday’s doubleheader at Milwaukee.

Dan Wilson took Sunday off as well and his left leg was packed in ice from ankle to hip after the loss.

Edgar Martinez is recovering nicely from bruised ribs and should return from the disabled list Aug. 5.

Love of baseball

Further proof of how romantic relationships can prosper through involvement with baseball comes from the Did You Know? portion of the Mariners media notes Sunday.

According to the Center for Marital and Family Studies at the University of Denver, the divorce rate is 23 percent lower in cities with major league baseball teams than in those cities deprived of the national pastime.

Notes

Cecil Fielder’s tto homers gave him 25, the seventh consecutive year he has reached that plateau, a franchise record.

For their exhibition game Monday, Seattle will give its regulars one at-bat, then rely on 13 prospects from throughout the organization to finish the game.

Coming up

The Mariners play an exhibition game today with their Class A affiliate, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, before going to Milwaukee for a doubleheader Tuesday. The match-ups Tuesday will be Bob Wells (10-3, 4.13) vs. Cal Eldred (1-0, 3.71) in the first game at 3:05 then Bob Wolcott (6-7, 5.40) will face Tim Vanegmond (0-1, 3.68) in the second game.<

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