Seattle Slows Trade Talks, For Now

As trade rumors that have swirled around Edgar Martinez begin to cool, his bat is starting to sizzle.

The Seattle Mariners third baseman went 3 for 4 with a home run, triple and double, driving in five runs Monday as the Mariners beat the California Angels 13-2 before 1,487 at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Martinez lifted his spring average to .539, which would seem to increase his trade value if the Mariners were still shopping his name around.

But club sources say trade talks have quieted while manager Lou Piniella and general manager Woody Woodward try to convince ownership to keep the present team intact.

Mariners chief executive officer John Ellis reportedly wants to trim at least $3 million from the club payroll, and the names most prominently mentioned in trade possibilities have been Martinez and pitchers Randy Johnson and Chris Bosio.

Woodward has been quoted as saying there’s no deadline to resolve the issue, so the Mariners may open the season with all three.

The Mariners hope to have left-hander Greg Hibbard back after the July 11 All-Star game.

Hibbard, who is recovering from last year’s orthropedic surgery on his pitching shoulder, is pitching at half speed off the mound now.

Reds sign free-agent catcher

The Cincinnati Reds agreed to a one-year contract with catcher Benito Santiago.

Santiago, who made $3.8 million last year with Florida, agreed to a $550,000 base salary and incentives that could roughly double his 1995 pay.

Gonzalez’s back problems continue

Juan Gonzalez’s back problems are back. The Rangers’ cleanup hitter returned to Texas for a complete examination and may have to open the season on the disabled list.

General manager Doug Melvin reacted to Gonzalez’s injury by signing free-agent outfielder Billy Hatcher to a minor-league contract.

Replacement umpires probable for opening day

Baseball umpires made a new proposal, but the negotiator for owners said he thought there was little chance for a deal by opening day next week.

Umpires, who make from $60,000 to $175,000 per season, asked for a 40 percent raise, down from 53 percent in their previous proposal and 60 percent in their initial plan.

Owners, who have locked out the umpires since Jan. 1, last Thursday offered a 10 percent increase.

Around the horn… .

The Colorado Rockies placed center fielder Ellis Burks and pitchers Armando Reynoso and Lance Painter on the 15-day disabled list… . Boston’s Roger Clemens, who has already missed his only scheduled spring start because of tendinitis in his throwing shoulder, might miss his first opening day since 1987… . Free-agent pitcher Luis Aquino, a 29-year-old right-hander with a 31-29 record and a 3.57 career ERA, signed a minor-league contract with the Montreal Expos. … Larry Doby, the first black to play in the American League, was hired as a special assistant to A.L. president Gene Budig… . Felipe Alou of Montreal and Buck Showalter of the New York Yankees, last year’s managers of the year, will manage their leagues in this summer’s All-Star Game, The Dallas Morning News reported.