Ichiro's big deal close to finalized

A Hall of Fame representative collected Ichiro's All-Star hat and bat Tuesday night to take back to Cooperstown, relics from his historic inside-the-park home run Tuesday night in San Francisco.

One day, Ichiro himself might well be headed to Cooperstown for Hall of Fame induction. There's now no doubt which hat he would be wearing — that of the Seattle Mariners.

Official word of Ichiro's new five-year contract extension to remain with the Mariners through the 2012 season is expected to come at a Friday news conference.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the deal — which is expected to exceed $100 million in total value — remained unsigned, but is expected to be finalized soon, according to sources. Ichiro's agent, Tony Attanasio, was said to be tied up all day in court watching his son try a case.

But it is believed the only remaining hangups are to finalize paperwork and conduct some medical tests.

Mariners president Chuck Armstrong said there was nothing new to report. Manager John McLaren couldn't shed any light on the Ichiro contract rumors, but he watched with pleasure as Ichiro stole the show at the All-Star Game.

"I thought he was spectacular, and I felt bad for J.J. [Putz, who gave up two runs in the ninth and was taken out]," McLaren said from his home in Peoria, Ariz.

"That ball by Dmitri Young came up on [second baseman] Brian Roberts [resulting in an inning-prolonging single]. If not, J.J. would have had the save. I'm awfully proud of both of them."

Speaking of the reported contract extension in the works for Ichiro, McLaren said, "I read on the computer what everyone was saying. I'd love to see him end his career in Seattle, get 3,000 hits and go into the Hall of Fame as a Mariner.

"It's very rare for a player nowadays to play his whole career with one organization. I love that. Edgar [Martinez] did it ... Of course, Ted Williams and some of the Yankee greats. I hope everything gets worked out so he can finish his career here."

McLaren is already looking ahead to the season's second half, which opens for the Mariners tonight at Safeco Field with the first game of a four-game series against the defending American League champions Detroit Tigers.

McLaren declined comment on an Internet report that the Mariners will call up Adam Jones from Tacoma to take over in right field.

According to the post on prospectinsider.com, Jones' arrival would start a chain reaction that would see Jose Guillen move from right field to left, and Raul Ibanez from left field to designated hitter, with current DH Jose Vidro moving to the bench.

Other sources in the organization disputed that the move would happen tonight, as originally reported (and later amended) by the Web site.

Jones, hitting .309 with 21 homers and 72 runs batted in for Class AAA Tacoma, is likely to come up at some point, perhaps soon. But there also is some sentiment that the Mariners are going so well now — a 49-36 record at the break, including 14 wins in 18 games to close out the first half — that such a dramatic shift of roles might be unnecessarily disruptive.

At any rate, nothing will happen, it would seem, until McLaren gets a chance to talk to the players involved.

McLaren said last Sunday, before the brawl-livened victory over the Oakland Athletics, that he was eager to get into the thick of the stretch drive. The Mariners reached the break in second place in the AL West, 2 ½ games behind the Los Angeles Angels. They are 1 ½ games behind Cleveland in the wild-card race.

"I call it the grind," McLaren said. "We're getting ready to go to the next stage of the grind. Grinding is great. I love grinding. I think it's fun.

"The second half, you start smelling it more. You know you're getting close, you know August and September are coming up. That's the fun time of year."

And McLaren is convinced the Mariners will be playing meaningful games all the way to the end.

"We're facing an elite team right out of the box, so it will be a challenge for us," he said Wednesday. "We believe in ourselves. We want to continue to play good baseball. If we can stay consistent, I think we have an excellent shot at the playoffs."

Other issues facing the Mariners as they resume play is the status of the No. 5 starting job, currently held by pitcher Ryan Feierabend but likely to switch over to Horacio Ramirez when he's ready to come off his minor-league rehab assignment.

There is also beginning to be speculation that the Mariners would be in the hunt for left-hander Dontrelle Willis if the Florida Marlins decide to make him available at the trade deadline.

For the record

Streak: W3

Home: 27-15

Road: 22-21

vs. AL West: 15-11

vs. L.A.: 2-7

vs. Oakland: 7-2

vs. Texas: 6-2

vs. AL East: 15-7

vs. AL Central: 10-9

vs. NL: 9-9

vs. LHP: 15-7

vs. RHP: 34-29

Day: 15-11

Night: 34-25

One-run: 14-11

Extra innings: 3-1