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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

M’S Casting For Cheaper Free Agents With Fassero Safely In Creel, Seattle Can Afford Frugality

Larry Larue Tacoma News Tribune

They landed the big fish in pitcher Jeff Fassero, so the Seattle Mariners have spent the past few days preparing smaller hooks.

With offers on the table to both Jamie Moyer and Terry Mulholland, the Mariners continue to make pitching their first priority. And once the Nov. 14 filing deadline is reached, the team can begin to seriously pursue free agents other than their own - including right-hander Kevin Tapani.

In conference calls and organizational meetings, the Mariners have narrowed their focus on pitching to five pitchers, including Moyer, Mulholland and Tapani, and have opened discussions with third baseman Dave Hollins.

The makeup of the ‘97 roster may be altered as much by the names Seattle isn’t pursuing as those that it will. Both outfielder Mark Whiten and right-handed reliever Mike Jackson may have priced themselves out of the Mariners plans. And neither Mulholland nor Moyer is particularly happy with the existing contract offers.

“We haven’t talked to anyone since the last day of the season, but that day they handed me a piece of paper offering me a one-year deal for about $50,000 more than I made last season,” Mulholland said. “There were incentives, but they were tougher to reach than those in my contract last season. I told my agent, ‘If this is a starting point, it could be a long winter.”’

Moyer, who finished the season 13-3, was offered a two-year contract totalling nearly $2 million. Mulholland was 13-11 in 1996, and was offered one year with a base salary of $400,000.

Moyer is said to want another year, but Mulholland would be happy with a one-year deal - he simply thinks the offer should be closer to what the market could bear.

“I’d love to come back to Seattle, but I’m a realist. Baltimore and Cleveland have already called my agent,” Mulholland said.

Reliever Jackson is looking for a considerable raise above his $800,000 salary after a year in which he appeared in 73 games and compiled a 3.63 earned-run average. Whiten played for three teams last season and batted .300 in 40 games with Seattle, with 12 home runs and 33 RBIs.

Notes

Third baseman Russ Davis, still on the mend after shattering his left ankle June 7, has been cleared by team doctors to join a winter-league team in Puerto Rico - but was told not to play for another few weeks. The team wants him to continue rehab. … Among the free agents discussed by the Mariners in meetings this week was Mike Blowers. “He could platoon with Paul Sorrento at first base, back up Davis at third,” one source said.