Originally published Friday, January 19, 2007 at 12:00 AM

Mariners | Lawrence still listening

The Mariners remain one of four teams competing to sign right-handed pitcher Brian Lawrence, a one-time Padres standout who missed all of...

By Larry Stone

Seattle Times staff reporter

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The Mariners remain one of four teams competing to sign right-handed pitcher Brian Lawrence, a one-time Padres standout who missed all of last season after shoulder surgery.

The Mariners have been characterized recently as the front-runner for the 30-year-old free agent. But Lawrence's agent, Page Odle, said Thursday the Rockies and Pirates improved their offers. The Padres are also in the running.

"We had another offer exchange [Wednesday] night from the Mariners, and there's definitely some interest there," Odle said. "Brian's very open to it. That's not a problem, but we've received several new offers in the last few days. It's picked up again, and Brian's trying to make a good decision."

Negotiating is complicated because of Lawrence's surgery last February to repair a torn labrum. Lawrence was traded by San Diego to the Washington Nationals prior to last season for third baseman Vinny Castilla, but never threw a pitch for the Nationals after hurting his shoulder early in spring training.

"Because of the surgery, there's different parameters being massaged through, and every new offer we have to go through that," said Odle. "I can't tell you anything is imminent."

The Mariners, he said, "have definitely put themselves in the mix for Brian. It's changing on a daily basis."

Dan Evans, special assistant to Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi, has seen Lawrence throw several times this winter, and Bavasi viewed a workout about two weeks ago.

Odle said Lawrence expects to be 100 percent by the start of the season. The Mariners would likely make Lawrence a contender for their starting rotation.

When healthy, Lawrence is a sinkerball specialist who twice started on opening day for the Padres. In 2002, he led the National League in ground outs and double plays induced and had a 3.69 earned-run average in 210 innings. Lawrence averaged more than 200 innings from 2002 to 2005 and won 15 games in 2004.

Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com.

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