Notebook | Deadline to sign top pick is closing in on Mariners

Notebook |

CHICAGO — Another deadline is rapidly approaching in major-league baseball, and it has nothing to do with trades or playoff rosters.

Wednesday is the last day for teams to get their June draft picks signed or else lose negotiating rights. The deadline has been moved up from past seasons, when negotiations could continue until a player enrolled in college in the fall.

The Mariners have yet to come to terms with their No. 1 pick, high-school pitcher Phillippe Aumont (11th overall) from Quebec, Canada.

"We're in discussions, and we're aware of the deadline," said Lee Pelekoudas, Seattle assistant general manager.

In another rule change, teams would be compensated with a pick next year if they don't sign their first-rounder. The Mariners, for example, would draft right after the team with the 11th pick, as well as get their own first-round pick, if they don't sign Aumont.

Of the 10 picks ahead of Aumont in the first round, four are signed: pitcher Daniel Moskos (No. 4) by Pittsburgh ($2.475 million signing bonus); pitcher Ross Detwiler (No. 6) by Washington ($2.15 million); first baseman Matt LaPorta (No. 7) by Milwaukee ($2 million); and pitcher Casey Weathers (No. 8) by Colorado ($1.8 million).

Based on the slotting system generally employed in the first round, look for Aumont to sign for something between Weathers' $1.8 million and the $1.575 million of infielder Beau Mills, the 13th overall pick by Cleveland and the next-highest choice to sign.

According to Baseball America, the only other unsigned Mariners pick in the top 10 is eighth-rounder Donnie Hume, a left-handed pitcher from San Diego State.

Ramirez still a starter

The numbers are not pretty for Horacio Ramirez, but he's staying in the rotation, manager John McLaren said.

On Thursday, Ramirez gave up seven runs in five innings against Baltimore while recording his seventh victory. Ramirez has a 7.12 earned-run average.

"Take away a couple of pitches, and his outings have been pretty good," McLaren said. "I was impressed after he gave up the grand slam [to Miguel Tejada in the third inning] when he came in and slammed the door.

"To me, that showed some maturity and that showed what he's all about. You take two or three pitches away from each one of his last five starts, and it could be different all the way around."

No forcing Jones

Rookie outfielder Adam Jones was electrifying in Thursday's 13-8 win over the Orioles — and found himself on the bench Friday.

McLaren has been consistent in saying that he won't force playing time for Jones. So when Jose Guillen, hit on the right middle finger by a Daniel Cabrera fastball on Thursday, said he felt good enough to play, McLaren put Guillen in right field. He had been prepared to play Jones in right if Guillen couldn't go.

"Like I said [Thursday], we know what talent is there," McLaren said. "And I know what talent we have in the field with our veteran players. I don't want to start playing games. We're going to try to work him in there on occasion to give guys rests. But we've been playing well. I'm not going to start switching things up to get him in there."

Jones had two singles and a double against the Orioles, leaving him with a .417 average (5 for 12) in six games, three of them starts. He scored four runs, the most ever in a game by a Mariners rookie.

"We know what he's all about," McLaren said. "He's going to go in one day and he's never going to come out, let's put it that way. I can't tell you when that day's going to be, but it's going to happen."

Notes

• Guillen showed his toughness in 2003, when he fractured the hook of the hamate bone in his left hand but played for a month with the injury while with the A's. He hit .455 in the Division Series against Boston.

So the sore finger wasn't about to keep him out of action. He was a little worried about gripping the ball for throws, but said, "It's OK for hitting, I can tell you that."

Added Guillen, "I played with a bone sticking out of my hand. Do you think this is going to be a problem?"

• The game at U.S. Cellular Field was a sellout. It was the annual "Elvis" night, complete with impersonators, trivia and other Presley fun. It is surpassed only by the season opener and interleague games against the Cubs in popularity.

For the record

Streak: L1

Home: 37-22

Road: 26-28

vs. AL West: 20-17

vs. L.A.: 4-8

vs. Oakland: 10-3

vs. Texas: 6-6

vs. AL East: 22-12

vs. AL Cent.: 12-11

vs. NL: 9-9

vs. LHP: 22-8

vs. RHP: 41-42

Day: 17-15

Night: 46-35

One-run: 18-17

Extra innings: 4-1