Mariners
Farewell to Freddy

By Bob Sherwin
Seattle Times staff reporter

JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES Freddy Garcia takes a last look around Safeco Field after his trade to the Chicago White Sox was announced during yesterday's game.

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Most read articles Most e-mailed articles

Related stories 10 biggest Mariners trades Details of the Mariners-White Sox trade What others are saying about the Garcia trade Other links Freddy Garcia photo gallery

What message are the Mariners sending with the trade of Freddy Garcia?

It means that the season, already clinging to legitimacy, is virtually over. It means the theory that the Seattle organization is pitching-rich will be put to the test over the next couple of years. It means that three years after one of the greatest seasons in baseball history — 116 wins — the Mariners are a rebuilding second-tier team. It means Garcia is gone and the Mariners, the second best revenue-producing team in baseball, wouldn't keep him and almost certainly won't bring him back.

"We're going to use our pitching the next couple years and the money we spend will be on position players," first-year general manager Bill Bavasi said after making a five-player trade yesterday with the Chicago White Sox.

The Mariners, whose primary focus was obtaining a catcher, received 25-year-old Miguel Olivo, who will be added to the major-league roster. They also acquired outfielder Jeremy Reed, who will be assigned to Class AAA Tacoma, and shortstop Michael Morse, likely dispatched to Class AA San Antonio.

The White Sox, one game out of first in the American League Central, can plug Garcia into an already solid pitching rotation. They also received catcher Ben Davis and an undisclosed amount of cash from the Mariners.

"I'm going to miss the guys in here. It's hard for me to leave. I've been here six years. When you stay on a team that long, you get used to it," said Garcia, who can become a free agent at the end of the season. "I feel really, really sad."

Bavasi said the deal was in the works for about a month, but with different players and different clubs and said it "crystallized over the past 24 hours." One of the reasons was Ken Williams, White Sox general manager, included Reed as one of the components. Bavasi didn't talk about whether highly regarded outfielder Aaron Rowand or other prospects were discussed.

The Yankees had been scouting Garcia for several weeks. The Mariners called New York general manager Brian Cashman yesterday and said they were prepared to trade Garcia, then called him back and said they had an offer they didn't think could be topped, The Associated Press reported.

"We couldn't match that deal," Cashman said, adding that New York's prospects were not as close to being ready for the major leagues as Chicago's.

Bavasi trusted scouting director Bob Fontaine on the potential of the three White Sox players. Fontaine was the director of player development for Chicago from 2000 until taking the Seattle job this year.

Highs and lows with Freddy Garcia With Freddy Garcia gone to the White Sox, here are some of the more interesting moments with the former Mariner. Good times... ALCS dominance (10/11/00) Garcia shuts down Mets (6/9/03) Garcia K's 8 in 1st win (5/6/04) Bad times... Freddy gets flattened (6/25/02) Angels shell Garcia (8/20/02) Freddy's freaky Friday (8/02/03)

Bavasi has been talking to several clubs over the past month, but he said any deal had to meet "minimal standards." By that, he meant the Mariners had certain holes to fill and they wouldn't accept a trade for a random prospect. Their needs were for position players such as a future catcher and future shortstop. Bavasi feels this trade gives them players who can step in at some point.

Olivo, who turns 26 on July 15, hit his seventh home run yesterday against the Chicago Cubs. He likely will assume the No. 1 catcher's spot ahead of Dan Wilson, who also is in his option year. Catcher Pat Borders seems likely to be sent back to Tacoma today. Olivo is hitting .270 and has good speed and a strong arm.

Reed, 23, has eight homers and 37 runs batted in for Class AAA Charlotte. A career .334 hitter, he was named the 2003 Topps Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .373 with 11 home runs, 95 RBI and 45 steals. Morse, 22, was hitting .287 with nine doubles, 11 home runs and 38 RBI for Class AA Birmingham. He's 6 feet 4, 220 pounds.

Bavasi, who does not rule out signing a pitcher this offseason, clearly has his priority set on improving the offense. He added that he couldn't sign Garcia to an extension because he said his agent, Peter Greenberg, "would want in excess of what they think they can get in the (free-agent) market."

That might rule out the club going after Garcia in the offseason, despite Garcia's willingness.

"I told them the door is open," said Garcia, who was teary-eyed after the game. "I would like to get in a conversation. It's a beautiful city; good people; nice fans. I have many memories here."

Garcia is a close friend of White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, a fellow Venezuelan, boosting the Sox's chances of re-signing him.

"I have to ask for a raise," Guillen told the Chicago Tribune. "He's going to be eating at my house every day."

Said Garcia: "Everybody knows he's my friend, but I want to do business. You've got to go there and do what I have to do. I'll go there and pitch the way I can pitch."

Bavasi was asked whether this means the season is over.

"We're going to keep playing," Bavasi said. "We're going to try to win as many games as we can."

But clearly there was an unspoken surrender quality in the clubhouse.

"I think everyone in here is a little stunned," manager Bob Melvin said. "And you could see it in Bill, too. It wasn't his happiest moment either."

It was devastating for pitcher Joel Pineiro, perhaps Garcia's closest friend on the team. He also was teary-eyed long after the game, a 5-1 loss to San Diego.

"He's like a brother to me," said Pineiro, who, at 25, moves to the role of No. 2 pitcher. "We did everything together. I think it's a mistake for us. You can't replace a Freddy Garcia. Nothing against Olivo, but he (Garcia) was the ace.

"He was someone I felt confident to talk to. Not that I couldn't talk to anyone else, but he's more like me — right-hander with a slider, curveball, changeup. We connected very well. Now I have to find a new throwing partner."

Bob Sherwin: 206-464-8286 or bsherwin@seattletimes.com. The Associated Press and Chicago Tribune contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

E-mail this article

Print this article

Search archive

More sports headlines...