Disappointing Aurilia done with M’s

CHICAGO – Seven weeks ago, Rich Aurilia was asked if it would surprise him if the Seattle Mariners released him from his one-year, $3.5 million contract.

“No,” Aurilia said. “Not the way we’re playing.”

Nearly two months after he’d said that, Aurilia was designated for assignment Saturday by the Seattle Mariners – a move that means the team has 10 days to trade or release the veteran shortstop.

“No player wants to hear the words ‘release,’ but it could be the best thing to happen to me,” Aurilia said. “I wish it had worked out better here. But when you’ve played the game long enough and you see a team play like this one has, you see the writing on the wall.”

Two days before the All-Star break, mired in a seven-game losing streak, the Mariners continued the transition that began with the Freddy Garcia trade to the Chicago White Sox on June 27.

These aren’t your father’s Mariners – and soon they won’t be the Mariners of April, 2004, either.

“This means we’ve started a process we needed to start. We’ve got a black cloud over us and we have to get from under it,” manager Bob Melvin said.

“We’re going to look at kids and find out who is part of this team for next year, and we’re going to do it in the next few months. We’re fortunate, because we don’t need to have a three-year plan. This team can compete – next season.”

The immediate move was to activate Raul Ibanez, but letting Aurilia go will have an impact beyond what happened Saturday. Aurilia’s departure opens a spot on Seattle’s 40-man roster, which means someone in the minor league system not on that roster – Tacoma’s Bucky Jacobsen, for instance – could benefit. If the Mariners want to bring up Jacobsen, as a designated hitter/first baseman, there’s now room to do so.

And, without question, the decision sent a message to the Mariners and their fans.

“There will be other changes,” general manager Bill Bavasi said. “Significant changes.”

Signed as a free agent in the winter, Aurilia’s arrival on a one-year contract came after the organization decided to trade Carlos Guillen. Aware of Guillen’s higher potential, the front office was also concerned about Guillen’s ability to stay healthy.

“Going into the season, we believed Carlos and Richie were similar players and that Carlos hadn’t stayed healthy,” Bavasi said. “We gambled and lost, and that’s not fun.”

Guillen is having an All-Star season with the Tigers. In 73 games, Aurilia batted .241 with four home runs and 28 RBIs. Worse, as he struggled to learn American League pitchers, his defense – keyed on knowing the hitters and positioning himself accordingly – suffered.

In Aurilia’s place, the Mariners have options both in Seattle and Tacoma. Willie Bloomquist started at shortstop Saturday, rookie Justin Leone has played the position and Rainiers infielder Ramon Santiago is a marvelous defensive player.

The future for the Mariners begins now.

“There won’t be the second-half excitement of a pennant race that the fans in Seattle are used to,” Melvin said. “The excitement is going to come from looking at the young players and the veterans who are going to be part of this down the line.”

“Everyone agrees – cycles end. This was something we had to do, and it won’t be the end of it. No one wants to see this kind of season go on without doing something to change it.

“There may have been a sense of waiting for something to happen. There may have been some players looking over their shoulders a bit, but we’re not going to dismantle the team,” Melvin said. “What happens now may re-invigorate the veterans, too. Change was necessary, and we’ve started it.”