OK, so maybe that photo above does show a bunch of seagulls. But they might as well be vultures. This Mariners team just left its 2009 season dead and buried where the 2009 playoffs are concerned.

But after getting outscored 31-6 here this weekend, that part is done. And the stands will be packed tomorrow night with scouts from all corners of the country. Not only will Roy Halladay and the Blue Jays be in town, but word is now out that the Mariners will be "sellers'' after all and could have some plum offerings.

The big name to watch is Jarrod Washburn and I'm starting to doubt he'll take the mound on Tuesday night in a Seattle uniform.

A big reason why is that things are happening in Milwaukee and some decisions will have to be made in short order.

Brewers pitcher Seth McClung went on the 15-day DL on Saturday and today, the Brewers called up Tim Dillard from Class AAA Nashville. But here's the catch: the Brewers are refusing to name Dillard as their Tuesday starter.

And Milwaukee manager Ken Macha added to the intrigue by strongly suggesting the team could have another starter acquired in time to make that Tuesday start. Back to Wisconsin native Washburn, who theoretically could hop a plane and make it to Milwaukee in time to take the mound on Tuesday on his normal four days of rest.

We mentioned this in yesterday's blog. The Brewers and Mariners have been talking but nothing definitive was hammered out because the Mariners were not sure which direction they were headed in on the trade front.

The Mariners need a shortstop. We've heard lots of speculation about Brewers mainstay J.J. Hardy, but its 21-year-old prospect Alcides Escobar who makes the most sense in a Mariners-Milwaukee deal.

Hardy is only under contract through next year, which is hardly what a rebuilding team like the Mariners will be looking for now that they are out of the playoff hunt. From Milwaukee's perspective, trading Hardy hurts clubhouse chemistry and forces you to thow a 21-year-old rookie in Escobar into the heart of a pennant race.

No, it makes more sense for the Brewers to deal Escobar to Seattle. But for Washburn alone? That would be quite a coup and I doubt it would happen.

That's why, yesterday, I mentioned the possibility of Brandon Morrow being included in such a deal, That would take Seattle's package to a whole other level. Would Morrow and Washburn fetch more than just Escobar? Probably. But I can't give you possible names because, frankly, Jack Zduriencik knows that entire Brewers system inside and out. There are a ton of possibilities and I'm sure he's got a list.

Hey, we're just having fun here. But at this time of year, two plus two doesn't always add up to eight. Sometimes, it equals four.

I forgot to mention that the Brewers also pulled Escobar out of a AAA game today. His team was getting blown out, but the Nashville squad waited all the way until the seventh inning to yank him. Is something in the works? I can't be sure. But I can tell you, if the Mariners are planning to deal Washburn this week, they probably don't want him back out there on Tuesday -- risking injury and such.

And if you're the Brewers, in a playoff hunt, you'd most likely want your pitcher on Tuesday night to not be a AAA call-up if you can avoid it.

Let's wait and see what happens.

You see? The season imploding this weekend didn't necessarily end all the fun.