Giving M's pink slip?

PEORIA, Ariz. — It was one Mariners offer Ichiro wisely wanted no part of.

The Japanese star was taking live batting practice in his first spring workout here Tuesday when Seattle reliever George Sherrill sent him lunging out of the way on a pitch that ran inside. After the chuckles subsided all around him, Ichiro finished the workout, then let reporters know that Sherrill's errant slider was about the only "pitch" he has seen yet from a Mariners squad he is thinking seriously about leaving.

In language as direct as he has used yet about his future with the Mariners, the record-setting leadoff man indicated he has yet to receive any contract extension offer, is "very upset" about the team's losing ways of late and remains intrigued by the prospect of free agency.

"I've played 15 years of professional baseball, including Japan and America and I have never filed for free agency," said Ichiro, who is eligible for free agency after the 2007 season. "So, I've never had the choice to choose for myself which road I want to take. I've never had to do that in the past. So, if you ask me 'Is it possible I might go to free agency?' I would say 'Yes, it is a possibility.' "

Ichiro added that he is "not even sure myself what my feelings are towards it at this point."

The 33-year-old, wearing a curious ensemble that included a pullover wool hat, a pink T-shirt with a glitzy number "13" on it and stylishly tattered jeans with camouflage patches, did his talking through an interpreter. But he was given several opportunities to clarify his remarks and still made it clear he's taking a wait-and-see approach with this year's team before committing to any formal offer — which he says he has yet to see from the club.

"I feel that everything that was done in the past and built up to this point is a very important part," he said. "But what happens in the future is also very important."

Ichiro left it clear he isn't pleased with the team's three consecutive last-place finishes after beginning his major-league career on a record-setting, 116-win Mariners club in 2001. He added that it will take at least a couple of months before he feels he can comment on the quality of new players.

"The feeling of getting upset is something you cannot get used to," he said of the sting of losing. "So, I am very upset."

Any possibility something had been lost in the translation was removed in the afternoon by Ichiro's agent. Tony Attanasio told The Times' Larry Stone that Ichiro "has been very disappointed over the past three years, more so than people would believe. But those who know him well understand that he was equally as disappointed as the fans and probably everyone on the Mariners to see what happened.

"Don't forget, when he first got here, they won 116 games. The team was loaded with not the greatest players in the world, but pretty doggone good players and there was a certain character the team had. You first go into that, and where do you go from there?"

That's the question Ichiro now appears to be asking himself. Attanasio met with Mariners chief negotiator Bart Waldman on Monday in Seattle, and he hopes to continue negotiations soon, but said the team hasn't made "an offer that Ichiro would consider to be a legitimate offer."

Ichiro put together his sixth straight season of at least 200 hits and 100 runs scored in 2006 and did the team a favor by agreeing to shift from right field to center. That enabled the Mariners to seek a bigger power threat to play right field and they signed free agent Jose Guillen to fill that spot.

What happens now could be determined by what happens on the field. Ichiro said he wants to focus on "having the best season possible this year" and won't comment about his status until he signs a contract or leaves as a free agent.

"I would like to take a big banner," he said, "and put it up in the clubhouse saying: 'No questions about free agency.' "

Fat chance of that happening, especially if Ichiro gets to the regular season without a deal. At that point, as each day ticks closer to the July 31 trade deadline, questions about his free agency may be the only thing anyone cares to ask about this team.

Geoff Baker: 206-464-8286 or gbaker@seattletimes.com