Mariners
Expect White Sox to ask about trade for Garcia

By Bob Finnigan
Seattle Times staff reporter

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If Freddy Garcia's name has not already come up in discussions the Mariners have had with the Chicago White Sox, it is certain to in the future.

According to a source, Ozzie Guillen is one of Garcia's best friends and biggest boosters.

"And since Guillen is now managing the White Sox, and Freddy's name is coming up in trade talks," the source said, "you can book it. It may not mean a trade, but it will be discussed."

It would not be the first time the right-hander's name has been raised in talks this month, which could be described as baseball's feeling-out process.

While the rumors are unsubstantiated, Garcia's name is said to have come up in talks with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox and possibly with the Phillies since Philadelphia manager Larry Bowa, a former Mariners coach, is another Garcia fan.

If the Phillies discuss a deal for Garcia, former Seattle favorite David Bell's name could come up. Passion like Bell's was sorely missed by the Mariners the past two years.

It is not certain which side has put the name of the talented but puzzling Garcia in play. The Mariners had tried to trade the right-hander to Boston at the July 31 deadline.

One rumor in October suggested that the Mariners had talked to the Yankees about Garcia, and asked for Alfonso Soriano, with the idea of playing him in center field.

Seattle is trying to correct a mistake from spring 2001 when the Yankees offered to trade the untested infielder to the Mariners. The Mariners hesitated, and Soriano hit well in a couple of Grapefruit League games, so New York pulled him off the table.

The man the Yankees wanted? Jose Paniagua.

In October, New York reportedly wanted to trade Soriano for Garcia and Mariners reliever Rafael Soriano.

That supposedly ended that round of talks, but another baseball man pointed out recently that since the Yankees are also seemingly willing to part with first baseman Nick Johnson, perhaps the Mariners could make an off-the-wall offer of Garcia and first baseman John Olerud for Johnson and Alfonso Soriano.

The Red Sox are said to be moving right fielder Trot Nixon. They reportedly offered him to Seattle for Garcia in one of several trade scenarios the teams talked about in July. Seattle instead asked for third baseman Bill Mueller, which did not work out.

New York and Boston are both said to be interested in free-agent right-handers Bartolo Colon and Kevin Millwood.

Colon of the White Sox and Millwood of the Phillies are the leading right-handers among the free agents, but neither was much better than Garcia, despite the Mariners pitcher's struggles for a second consecutive season.

Garcia finished 12-14 with a 4.51 ERA, Colon was 15-13, 3.87 and Millwood was 14-12, 4.01. Garcia kept right-handed hitters to a .223 average, but they hit .246 off Colon and .253 off Millwood.

Garcia could be considerably cheaper. Colon has already rejected $36 million for three years from the White Sox (which makes Garcia a Chicago target) and Millwood made $9.9 million in 2003. Garcia projects to $8 million to $9 million in 2004.

Copyright © 2003 The Seattle Times Company