Mariners
M's may sign Aurilia

By Bob Finnigan
Seattle Times staff reporter

	BRIAN KERSEY / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Rich Aurilia gets a pat on the back from Pedro Feliz after hitting a grand slam last season for the San Francisco Giants.
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While it is uncertain if they will have a new shortstop in time to ring in the New Year, the Mariners are trying to make their holidays happier by signing Rich Aurilia during this normally quiet stretch of the baseball calendar.

The situation is made more complex by the linked need to trade Carlos Guillen, with the 2004 player payroll currently at its $95 million limit.

Sources say Seattle could be working on a deal that would send Guillen to Colorado, one of the handful of clubs said to be interested in signing Aurilia.

The moves seemingly would have to be almost simultaneous. The Mariners could not risk being stuck with both players, with Aurilia at shortstop and Guillen, who signed for $2.5 million plus $900,000 in incentives, as an expensive utility infielder.

The Mariners are probably just talking about Rockies prospects in any trade of Guillen.

Aurilia hit .278 last season for San Francisco with 13 home runs and 58 runs batted in. He has spent his entire career with the Giants, breaking into the majors in 1995.

Barry Axelrod, agent for Aurilia, said he has had at least one conversation with Seattle general manager Bill Bavasi during the holiday period, when little is usually done because team offices close for Christmas and New Year's.

"It could be an interesting situation for Richie," Axelrod said. "In a lot of ways it's a good fit ... if we can work out a couple of details."

One of the details is thought to be the length of a contract, with Aurilia, 32, seeking a multi-year deal and the club preferring a limit of one year, or one year with an option season, in the $3.5 million to $4 million range.

The Mariners are after Aurilia, regarded as good in the clubhouse as well as on the field, because he has been an integral part of San Francisco's playoff teams.

He has also been a more consistent offensive contributor than Guillen, with considerably more power (107 homers the past five seasons).

If successful in these moves, Seattle could still be in the market for a veteran infielder off the bench, such as free agents Denny Hocking or Damian Jackson.

Previously, the Mariners signed outfielder Raul Ibanez, infielder Scott Spiezio and reliever Eddie Guardado.

The Mariners have also re-signed two of their own free agents, designated hitter Edgar Martinez and reliever Shigetoshi Hasegawa. They also are expected to reach an agreement with catcher Pat Borders.

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

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