Mariners
More changes expected for Mariners

By Bob Finnigan
Seattle Times staff reporter

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If you were surprised by the trade of Freddy Garcia — expected but unexpected this week — you were hardly alone.

Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi was sitting in the clubhouse during the fifth inning of Sunday's game, got a call and went rushing off.

Thirty minutes later, he called manager Bob Melvin to the batting-cage area behind the bench and told him his lead pitcher had been dealt to the Chicago White Sox for three young players. Catcher Miguel Olivo joined the team yesterday, Class AAA outfielder Jeremy Reed could be here in weeks and AA infielder Mike Morse's ETA is undetermined.

Players on the Seattle bench found out a bit later when a member of the dugout police detail told them.

The bullpen found out like most of those in the park, in the ninth inning of the 5-1 loss to San Diego, when the players read the announcement posted on the scoreboard.

"Seeing Freddy go, it strikes me there are going to be more changes," designated hitter Edgar Martinez said.

According to varied sources, and some rumor, second baseman Bret Boone and reliever Mike Myers could be traded to the New York Yankees, first baseman John Olerud to the Boston Red Sox and shortstop Rich Aurilia back to the National League.

Among the moves you won't see for now are Aurilia going back to the Giants, since San Francisco may have tired of waiting for the Mariners to move, and Gil Meche going to the Detroit Tigers, who two weeks ago refused to part with Brandon Inge.

There are no immediate plans to start parading young players up I-5 from Tacoma. Yet that could simply be waiting for the Mariners to make room for the likes of George Sherrill (as soon as Myers is dealt), Travis Blackley, Justin Leone, Gregg Dobbs, eventually Jose Lopez, and possibly Bucky Jacobsen.

"From here, we'll keep playing and take a look at the pieces we've added," Bavasi said. "We're not going to start bringing in younger players right now. We'll get a look at them eventually."
 
Reaction to Seattle's trade was largely positive.

"You have to wonder how a club cannot re-sign a top pitcher," one American League scout said. "And how they plan to replace his 200 innings. But given that he was going, Seattle did well. We like all those kids. Olivo was coming along as a front-line catcher, and Chicago is taking a gamble moving him, since they don't have a lot of catching behind him."

Said an NL scout: "Reed's a very good hitter — not a speed guy or a power guy, just a good hitter.

"Olivo, a catch-and-throw guy who's hit a lot better recently. We like the shortstop (Morse) and the way he's adjusted to AA (Birmingham). We had him rated better than the Lopez kid Seattle is so high on. In fact, if they both played at AAA, we see Morse at short and Lopez moving to third.

"Seattle did real well. There's a chance they acquired three everyday players in the deal."

The deal with Chicago wound up the winner in a lottery of six pursuers — including the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. The New York Mets fell out when they refused to part with top third-base prospect David Wright.

"We had two deals that could have been made Sunday," Bavasi said. "Catching was not a required part of any deal, but the better ones included it."

While Bavasi did not name teams, the other was almost certainly the Yankees, who were dangling minor-league prospect Dionar Navarro.

The White Sox and Mariners reportedly stalled for about a week on the right combination of players and over Chicago's request for time to negotiate a deal with Garcia. Meantime, the Yankees kept talking and came close.

In fact, two weeks ago, Garcia said he expected to go to the Yankees. But Sunday morning, New York called just before the Seattle game began and pulled pitcher Jose Contreras. That was probably because Contreras, whom Mariners scout Pat Gillick holds in high regard, threw six two-hit innings against the Mets that day and reportedly hit 100 mph on the radar gun.

When word of the Seattle-Chicago deal got back to Yankee Stadium, observers noted that owner George Steinbrenner ordered GM Brian Cashman into his office for a long talk that was said to be unpleasant.

Early Sunday in Chicago, White Sox GM Kenny Williams admitted Garcia was his No. 1 target, but he said the chances of getting him were iffy.

Seattle reportedly had asked for Olivo and third baseman Joe Crede, but the White Sox offered Crede and Reed. Reed was Topps Minor League Player of the Year in 2003 after batting .373.

Seattle asked for Olivo, Reed and Morse. The White Sox wanted 72 hours to sign Garcia a week ago. The Mariners refused and the deal went into limbo for days.

When the teams started to talk again, the Mariners made it clear they wouldn't agree to an advance signing. The White Sox backed off again, then asked for 24 hours. The Mariners said no again.

Suddenly, in the middle of Sunday's game at Safeco Field, the White Sox called and agreed, which got Bavasi hustling.

"It's disappointing to see Freddy go," Martinez said. "It's tough to lose a guy you've played with five or six years who was part of our success. I understand it is a business and that there are trades at this time of year.

"Sometimes you trade for now and sometimes for the future. ... And, yes, for me the future is now. It's been a long time since we've made trades like Freddy, and it feels kind of strange. As I remember that feeling from years ago, it is not a good one."

In a surreal scene, Garcia hung out with teammates while they prepared for practice last night.

"I saw him," Melvin said, "and it was like, 'Did I dream that yesterday?' But I'm sure at some point he's leaving."

When his teammates went out to the field, there was nothing left for Garcia to do but go.

"I am happy," he said, eyes moist behind dark glasses. "But also, I am sad."

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