Would Seattle trade Ichiro?

Could or would the Mariners trade Ichiro, whose dissatisfaction with his team was expressed first after the last game of the 2005 season and most recently in a Kyodo News Service story last week?

Mariners officials have a standing no-comment policy on personnel moves, but people from other organizations spoke for them.

To both questions, their universal response was "no."

"As much as they need pitching, the Mariners are looking to help their offense," a National League scout said. "Why would they part with one of their key offensive weapons?"

A second National League scout said if Ichiro were on the market every team would be interested.

"Who wouldn't, with all he can do for you, although most couldn't afford the contract [Ichiro will make $11.5 million in 2006]. But I think most clubs would think it would be insulting to ask Seattle about their best player."

"He's unhappy?" an American League team official asked. "He can come here and be unhappy any time he wants."

With it exceedingly unlikely the Mariners would try to trade Ichiro, Adrian Beltre, Richie Sexson or Raul Ibanez, the man who now comes closest to filling the void as a clubhouse leader, they are left in a curious position.

According to sources, Seattle has been trying to fill some of its needs by trading pitching, which also is its most serious need.

Last week at the general managers meetings in California, the Mariners were one of the busier teams and were said to have talked widely about moving Gil Meche, Joel Pineiro, Ryan Franklin, Matt Thornton and even Rafael Soriano.

"They're in a tough spot," an American League scout said of Seattle officials. "They're in there looking for pitching like everyone else, yet Seattle is trying to trade what experienced pitching they have. That's not a good selling point.

"If they want to upgrade their pitching, they'll have to bite a bullet and give up obvious value. We like those kids, [Felix] Hernandez and [Yuniesky] Betancourt. And if a team has money, they'd have to go for Sexson. If he hit 40 homers [39] in Seattle, he'd be close to 50 in most other parks."

The Phillies reportedly tried to sell Seattle on Jim Thome, playing on manager Mike Hargrove's history with him in Cleveland. Those talks supposedly ended when the Phils brought up Hernandez's name.

Hernandez and Betancourt, and probably Ichiro (unless his emotional state causes the Mariners organization to make a global shift) and Beltre, are untouchables and can't be had at almost any price.

This could be a better year than usual for trades. But Lee Pelekoudas, Seattle's associate GM, acknowledged that optimism could have arisen from the idea "this is a thin year in the free-agent market."

Yet it could be a perfect year in the free-agent market to fit the Mariners' needs.

While the Mariners are believed to have talked money with pitcher Jamie Moyer (a one-year contract offer and a club option for a second) and catcher Kenji Jojima (two years plus a club option for a third), linking them to the likes of A.J. Burnett and/or Kevin Millwood is specious at this point.

Speaking only in general terms, Pelekoudas said the Mariners have spent the past month gearing up to be active in the crunch time that starts with the winter meetings, Dec. 5-9 in Dallas.

Burnett, said to be leaning toward Toronto, could get $10 million a year for more years than prudent teams like Seattle want to give pitchers. Millwood, an annual winner at age 31, might be in the same financial ballpark. And both would require the forfeiture of high draft picks as compensation, something the Mariners want to limit.

Otherwise, the free-agent list is peppered with names like Matt Morris, Paul Byrd, Kenny Rogers and Jarrod Washburn, middle-rotation starters who could come in and help out for a season or two.

The Mariners will probably be able to fit two pitchers and an outfielder such as Jacque Jones into their free-agent budget.

"The idea is get one or even two new starters, along with Moyer, who really wants to stay in Seattle," said a baseball man familiar with Seattle's bare rotation. "You sign vet guys who know how to pitch, how to win, and can start ahead of Hernandez. No way you want to open the season with a 19-year old as your No. 1 pitcher."

Notes

• Randy Adamack, vice president of communications for the Mariners, has been named the 2005 winner of the Robert O. Fishel Award for Public Relations Excellence.

• Tickets for the Mariners' annual Fanfest, Jan. 28-29, will go on sale Dec. 8. The price will be $10 for adults and $5 for children 6-14, with children under 5 admitted free. Tickets will be on sale at all Mariners team stores, at www.seattlemariners.com/fanfest and at all Ticketmaster outlets.

• The Mariners' RBI Club will hold its annual dinner and live and silent auctions Dec. 3 at the Harbor Club of Seattle, 801 2nd Ave., 17th floor. Tickets will be a tax-deductible $100 with proceeds going to the Toys For Kids charity. Information: Mike Aceto, 206-346-4463.

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