Mariners
M's may go for Guerrero if talks with Tejada fail

By Bob Finnigan
Seattle Times staff reporter

	Miguel Tejada
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Although the Mariners have started contract talks with Randy Winn, they may end up discussing a deal with a bigger-name outfielder.

Against all odds, Vladimir Guerrero could wind up a Seattle Mariner.

At this point, the odds are long, and a connection between the Seattle club and the former Montreal superstar, top player among this winter's free agents, is largely hot-stove speculation. But by this time next week, Seattle could be involved in trying to sign Guerrero.

"It could be, and right now it's probably not realistic," said a Mariners source. "But if things work out a certain way, we could be talking with them."

Pat Gillick, the former Seattle general manager whom the club is using as a point man on several free agents, met with Guerrero as well as Miguel Tejada when he visited the Dominican Republic last month.

Although he told Tejada not to sign with any club before speaking to the Mariners, he is believed to have told Guerrero the team could wind up making him a contract offer.

In fact, the only way even negotiating with Guerrero becomes a possibility is if the Seattle club learns this weekend that its pursuit of shortstop Tejada is going to fail.

According to a club source, "There is no way you can do both."

The two players have the same agent, Fern Cuza, who is scheduled to attend the annual baseball winter meetings that start tomorrow in New Orleans.

Another factor that would have a bearing is whether the Mariners can come to agreement with Winn, with talks under way since the signing of reliever Eddie Guardado.

If Winn takes a deal that will save Seattle some money, not much more than the $4.5 million he made last year, he is likely to open the 2004 season in center, between Raul Ibanez in left and Ichiro in right.

But if not, with Seattle reluctant to tender Winn a contract on Dec. 20 and open the door to arbitration, the idea of testing the waters with Guerrero may grow.

However, it would take a number of factors to reach a realistic number, since Guerrero will be easily the most expensive free agent of the winter.

Montreal reportedly offered $75 million for five years in a failed attempt to keep him, and Baltimore has been rumored to have offered $90 million for six years.

So if the Mariners are trying to get Winn as cheaply as possible, how do they even dream of Guerrero, at least three times more expensive?

The basis is the money that would not be going to Tejada, some $8 million to $10 million for four or five years.

Then with the signing of Guardado for the bullpen and the possibility this could free up Rafael Soriano to move to the starting rotation, Freddy Garcia could be moved to free up another $8 million to $10 million.

In addition, there is the $4 million to $5 million that would otherwise be going to Winn, who would not be back.

That could pay for a shortstop, either as part of an offer to free agent Rich Aurelia, or to re-sign Carlos Guillen.

There is another X factor in considerations of Guerrero — the glitch that has developed with the Yankees and Gary Sheffield. If that breaks up the three-year, $39 million deal they shook hands on last week, George Steinbrenner assuredly will turn to Guerrero.

If Guerrero gets involved with the Yankees, Baltimore might go hard after Tejada, although agent Cuza is reputedly no pal of Orioles owner Peter Angelos, which could complicate their efforts to get Guerrero and/or Tejada.

The Mariners are expected to be active in talks about a trade for Garcia this weekend in New Orleans, ideally but not necessarily in a package with third baseman Jeff Cirillo.

That could be the most they might expect out of any deal because they have to be leery of taking on more salary.

The Yankees could play a part in a Garcia trade scenario, too. If they lose left-handed pitcher Andy Pettitte to Houston, as was reported close yesterday, they will need another starter and could have Garcia on their list of possibilities.

But the bottom line is this: The Mariners have established a priority in Tejada, who would improve their power and spirit, and if that does not work out, they could look into the cost of Guerrero.

Note

• Guardado's contract has several unique features, but he cannot simply walk away after the first year if he is not the closer, as has been reported elsewhere.

He gets a $1.5 million signing bonus, and $2.5 million for 2004.

After the first year, the Mariners can pick up their option and pay the pitcher $6 million.

If they decline, Guardado can pick up the player option and be back for $4.5 million or file for free agency.

The same method is in place after the second year, except that the club option is $7 million and the player option is $4.5 million.

Bob Finnigan: 206-464-8276 or bfinnigan@seattletimes.com.

Copyright © 2003 The Seattle Times Company