M's eyeing Braves' Hudson?

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — As free-agent opportunities dwindled by the hour, the Mariners stepped up efforts Tuesday to land at least one pitcher via trade.

Seattle engaged in talks with the Texas Rangers about prized young lefty John Danks as the second day of baseball's winter meetings came and went.

The Mariners also asked the Baltimore Orioles about some of their developing arms and found themselves back in the forefront of yet another three-way trade rumor that would see them land Atlanta Braves starter Tim Hudson.

The Hudson possibility would involve the Mariners trading first baseman Richie Sexson, a scenario gathering steam even as the team insists it isn't trying to deal him. Sexson would be sent to the San Francisco Giants and reliever Rafael Soriano would be shipped to the Braves, while the Mariners would receive Hudson and Atlanta first baseman Adam LaRoche in return.

An Atlanta team that looked dismal in the bullpen last season would also receive closer Armando Benitez from the Giants to complete the three-way trade.

Seattle general manager Bill Bavasi said Tuesday night that he was, "A little bit closer on the trade front, microscopically closer on the free-agent front."

Bavasi made the comment on a day when Toronto Blue Jays free-agent lefty Ted Lilly all but knocked Seattle out of the running for his services and focused on trying to start a bidding war between his former team and the Chicago Cubs.

Lilly's agent, Larry O'Brien, indicated his client wants to play for a contender and that his talks with Seattle on Tuesday were much less further along than with other clubs.

"I'm not sure that we're going to have more meetings," O'Brien said.

The Mariners also dealt with the news that the St. Louis Cardinals are seriously pursuing Giants free-agent starter Jason Schmidt, whose agent says the Kelso native's desires to remain on the West Coast are genuine but have been exaggerated by the media.

The idea that Seattle might not land Schmidt has sent them scampering to find alternatives.

A report Tuesday that the Mariners are interested in Oakland lefty Barry Zito, while technically accurate, seems to fly in the face of the organization's reluctance to give free-agent pitchers a deal of four years or more.

Zito's camp has been asking for a six- or seven-year deal, and the Rangers are believed to be putting one together worth roughly $94 million. Bavasi was to the point when asked whether he, as a GM, would allow himself to go six years on any pitcher.

"I'd never say never," he said, "but it's not likely."

That would appear to eliminate the Mariners from any serious Zito discussions. But that could change if Texas doesn't come through with a six-year offer and the New York Mets maintain their stance of not wanting to go that high.

But for now, the trade front is looking more and more viable for the Mariners. Acquiring Hudson in the three-way deal, besides giving the Mariners a pitcher who went 13-12 with a 4.83 earned-run average last season, would appear almost too good to be true from Seattle's perspective.

The key would be first baseman LaRoche, a 27-year-old who earned less than $500,000 while hitting 30 homers and driving in 90 runs in his second full season. The Mariners have expressed interest in LaRoche before, and his bat would help offset the loss of Sexson's power while unloading salary.

Another three-way trade proposal, involving the Mariners obtaining Manny Ramirez from the Boston Red Sox with Sexson and others going to Beantown, died before it ever got off the ground. Such is often the fate of three-team proposals, which is why the other trade possibilities being explored may bear more fruit.

The Rangers asked Seattle about acquiring reserve center fielder Jeremy Reed and were hit with a Bavasi request for Danks, who went 4-5 with a 4.33 ERA in 13 starts at Class AAA last season. That's a no-fly in Texas for the moment, but talks are expected to continue.

Baltimore keeps trying to peddle off Rodrigo Lopez and his 5.90 ERA on all comers, but also has Adam Loewen and prospect Hayden Penn available. The Orioles do like Mariners bats like Reed and first baseman Ben Broussard, but an exact match has yet to be found that would satisfy both clubs.