Mariners Say Someone Must Go Cost-Conscious Club Will Trade High-Paid Player
Twenty-four hours after it opened, the Seattle Mariners had a spoilsport crash Camp Euphoria - economic reality.
The morning after emerging from an organizational budget meeting, the Mariners front office laid out plans that could dramatically change the Seattle roster in an effort to cut costs.
The rapid-fire financial news:
One of five high-salaried players on the team - a group that includes Ken Griffey Jr., Jay Buhner, Randy Johnson, Chris Bosio and Edgar Martinez - will definitely be traded before the end of spring training.
First baseman Tino Martinez, eligible for salary arbitration, was offered a one-year, $1 million deal Thursday - and told he had 24 hours to accept it or be granted free-agency.
Pitcher Dave Fleming, expected in camp today, will be offered the same deal as Martinez, though for considerably less money and less time to accept or walk.
General manager Woody Woodward was working under explicit instructions from ownership to cut the Mariners’ player payroll from approximately $34 million to $30 million before Seattle plays its first regular-season game April 27.
“We’re going to make at least one trade this spring, and part of that will be budget-influenced,” Woodward said.
Team executives said that neither Griffey nor Buhner would be dealt, and that of the other three players making $3 million or more, the easiest to replace within the organization was Edgar Martinez - the 1992 batting champion who has battled injuries and slumps the past two seasons.
Asked whether Johnson might be dealt if the team could not trade either Bosio or Martinez, Woodward hedged: “Whoever we trade must reduce our budget, but to say Randy is the guy isn’t accurate. There are a number of guys and you can speculate who will go. I won’t. All I can say is we’re exploring trades.”
Manager Lou Piniella, who asked ownership to keep his team intact, and was told that wasn’t possible, said a trade wouldn’t cripple the Mariners.
“But if you trade a player, then lose Tino, then lose Fleming, that would be tough,” Piniella said. “We’ve got a nice little club put together, but we’re not that deep - especially in the starting rotation.”
Johnson has not yet reported to camp, but both Bosio and Edgar Martinez talked openly about the possibility that one or the other might not be in Seattle when the season opens.
“If this team keeps everybody, we’ve got the chance to win the title,” Bosio said. “Look what economics forced them to give up last year - a Gold Glove shortstop (Omar Vizquel) and a second baseman (Bret Boone) who had 80 RBIs by August last season. It’s part of the game, but I don’t want to go, and I don’t want to see this team do what Montreal is doing.”
“I’ve heard rumors for quite a while now, so it’s always in the back of my mind,” Edgar Martinez said. “I want to stay, and if I was the general manager, all I can tell you is it wouldn’t be me I traded. I hope it doesn’t happen, but I have no control of the situation.”
Tino Martinez, who reported Wednesday, was told Thursday there was an offer on the table and that he had until this morning to accept it or become a free agent. Initially, Seattle wasn’t even certain to give him that option.
For Martinez, who batted .261 with 20 home runs and 61 RBI in 97 games last year, the decision will come down to three things.
“How much do I want to stay in the organization, the state of the free-agent market and my feelings for Lou Piniella,” Martinez said, ticking off his considerations. “I’ve been through tough times here, and with Lou and this coaching staff, this is the best this team’s ever been. We have the best chance to win.”