M's pass deadline on sideline

BALTIMORE — Would you have traded Ichiro?

The Mariners would not, or could not, although sources said when they checked on the availability of Houston pitcher Roy Oswalt as Monday's trading deadline neared, the Astros said they'd like Seattle's all-star right fielder in return.

Sources also said the Philadelphia Phillies asked for Ichiro in any deal with the Mariners involving outfielder Bobby Abreu, who was later traded to the New Yank Yankees for several marginal players.

The Mariners do not comment on personnel matters. But there is no doubt team owner Hiroshi Yamauchi would have opposed a move to trade Ichiro.

Ichiro visits Yamauchi in Kyoto, Japan, after each season, and it is known the owner is especially fond of the outfielder.

Thus, any discussion involving Ichiro, who like Abreu has one more year left on his contract beyond 2006, is a non-starter, even when the Astros dangle a prize such as Oswalt, a starter Seattle would very much like to have added.

The Phillies were also believed to have offered starting pitcher Cory Lidle and reliever Arthur Rhodes, and possibly cash to help even out the difference between Abreu's $15.5 million for 2007 and Ichiro's $11.5 million.

On Monday, when 12 deals were made by other teams, Seattle was considering three or four less significant moves, such as talking with the Los Angeles Dodgers about center fielder Kenny Lofton.

However, Seattle officials apparently preferred to stick with 20-year-old Adam Jones, who has shown increasing comfort in center.

Previously, sources said the Mariners rejected Washington's request of Jones in a deal for Alfonso Soriano, as well as several inquiries about closer J.J. Putz.

In a conference call summing up their trade efforts over the past few weeks, general manager Bill Bavasi said, "We did not make any deals in the last few days, but we were in on some big names. We got Eddie Perez earlier and added [Ben] Broussard more recently, and we're happy with the group we've got. Mike [Hargrove, manager] is happy, too."

Hargrove said, "Not to take anything away from Carl Everett, but it's a better team than at any point in the season."

Bavasi said club officials were not disappointed at the inability to complete one more deal.

"We had nibbles, but we were protecting a mixed group of guys we wouldn't give up [Putz and Jones, for example], major-leaguers and minor-leaguers, trying to win now and develop at the same time," he said.

Bavasi declined to put a number to the Mariners' "protected" list. He also would not specify which positions the club tried to upgrade.

"I think it would be fair to say our discussion involved all positions," he said.

Of course, there is always the possibility of a trade involving players who clear waivers.

"I don't think doors are ever closed unless you upset another team," Bavasi said. "And we didn't upset anybody."

After July 31, waivers are required for trades. In the process of obtaining waivers, teams place as many as seven players at a time on waivers for 48 hours.

If the players clear waivers, they can be traded, or if they are claimed they can be traded to the claiming team, explained Lee Pelekoudas, Seattle's assistant GM.

If there is a claim that does not involve a trade, a team can pull a player back off waivers one time, if it chooses. If a player is placed on waivers a second time, it is irrevocable.

Notes

• Pelekoudas said the Mariners have no interest in re-signing pitcher Ryan Franklin, who was designated for assignment Sunday by Philadelphia. Afterward, Franklin complained he had signed ($2.6 million) to be a starter and Phillies manager Charlie Manuel had shifted him to the bullpen without reason.

• Heat-related difficulties caused the cancellation of FSN-TV's pregame show Monday night. The air conditioning broke down in the production truck, bringing the possibility that sensitive equipment would overheat. The pregame show was canceled to save equipment use time for the game telecast.

How the runs scored

Orioles first: Roberts homered to right on a 1-0 count. Fahey grounded out, shortstop Betancourt to first baseman Sexson. Mora homered to left on a full count. Tejada struck out. Gibbons popped out to first baseman Sexson. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Orioles 2, M's 0.

Orioles third: Fahey walked. Mora grounded into fielder's choice, second baseman Lopez to shortstop Betancourt, Fahey out. Tejada singled to center, Mora to third. Gibbons singled to right, Mora scored, Tejada to second. Conine grounded into a double play, shortstop Betancourt to second baseman Lopez to first baseman Sexson, Gibbons out. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Orioles 3, M's 0.

Mariners sixth: Johjima grounded out, third baseman Mora to first baseman Conine. Betancourt singled to center. Jones singled to center, Betancourt to second. Ichiro lined out to left fielder Fahey. Lopez singled to left, Betancourt scored, Jones to second. Beltre walked on four pitches, Jones to third, Lopez to second. Ibanez singled to center, Jones scored, Lopez scored, Beltre to third. Sexson grounded out, third baseman Mora to first baseman Conine. 3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. M's 3, Orioles 3.

Mariners seventh: Perez singled to left. On Fahey's error, Perez to second. Johjima singled to center, Perez scored. Manon pitching. Betancourt doubled to left, Johjima to third. Jones struck out. Ichiro was intentionally walked. Lopez popped out to third baseman Mora. Beltre safe on fielder's choice and Mora's error, Johjima scored, Betancourt to third, Ichiro to second. Ibanez grounded out, second baseman Roberts to first baseman Conine. 2 runs, 3 hits, 2 errors, 3 left on. M's 5, Orioles 3.

Orioles seventh: Markakis homered to center on a 2-0 count. Sherrill pitching. Roberts flied out to right fielder Ichiro. Fahey struck out. Lowe pitching. Mora struck out. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. M's 5, Orioles 4.

Mariners eighth: Rodriguez pitching. Sexson homered to center on a 1-2 count. Perez walked on four pitches. Johjima homered to left on the first pitch, Perez scored. Betancourt doubled to center. Jones grounded out, shortstop Tejada to first baseman Conine, Betancourt to third. Ichiro grounded out, first baseman Conine unassisted. Lopez singled to left, Betancourt scored. Beltre struck out. 4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. M's 9, Orioles 4.

Orioles eighth: Fruto pitching. Tejada walked on a full count. Gibbons flied out to center fielder Jones. On Fruto's wild pitch, Tejada to second. Conine grounded out, second baseman Lopez to first baseman Sexson, Tejada to third. Patterson singled to right, Tejada scored. On defensive indifference, Patterson to second. On Fruto's wild pitch, Patterson to third. Hernandez struck out. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. M's 9, Orioles 5.

Mariners ninth: Ibanez doubled to center. On Rodriguez's wild pitch, Ibanez to third. Sexson hit a sacrifice fly to right fielder Markakis, Ibanez scored. Perez fouled out to catcher Hernandez. Johjima fouled out to first baseman Conine. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. M's 10, Orioles 5.

Mariners statistics

For the record

W/L streak: W-3

At home: 28-26

On road: 24-27

vs. AL West: 10-18

vs. Angels: 7-5

vs. Oakland: 1-9

vs. Texas: 2-4

vs. AL East: 14-13

vs. AL Cen.: 14-18

vs. NL: 14-4

vs. LHP: 15-17

vs. RHP: 37-36

Day: 17-18

Night: 35-35

1-run: 10-16

Extra innings: 3-7

The week ahead

T

@ Baltimore

4:05 p.m., FSN

LH Jamie

Moyer (6-9)

vs.

RH Rodrigo

Lopez (7-11)

W

@ Baltimore

12:05 p.m.

RH Felix

Hernandez (9-9)

vs.

LH Erik Bedard (12-6)

Th

Off day

F

Oakland

7:05 p.m., FSN

LH Jarrod

Washburn (5-10)

vs.

LH Barry Zito (11-7)

Sa

Oakland

1:05 p.m., Ch. 13

RH Joel Pineiro

(7-8)

vs.

RH Dan Haren (7-9)