Guerrero / Tejada, fates entwined



Bob Finnegan of the Seattle TImes speculates today that the Mariners might enter the bidding for OF Vladimir Guerrero if they fail to sign free agent SS Miguel Tejada.

Although the Mariners have started contract talks with Randy Winn, they may end up discussing a deal with a bigger-name outfielder.

Against all odds, Vladimir Guerrero could wind up a Seattle Mariner.

At this point, the odds are long, and a connection between the Seattle club and the former Montreal superstar, top player among this winter's free agents, is largely hot-stove speculation. But by this time next week, Seattle could be involved in trying to sign Guerrero.

"It could be, and right now it's probably not realistic," said a Mariners source. "But if things work out a certain way, we could be talking with them."

Pat Gillick, the former Seattle general manager whom the club is using as a point man on several free agents, met with Guerrero as well as Miguel Tejada when he visited the Dominican Republic last month.

Although he told Tejada not to sign with any club before speaking to the Mariners, he is believed to have told Guerrero the team could wind up making him a contract offer.

In fact, the only way even negotiating with Guerrero becomes a possibility is if the Seattle club learns this weekend that its pursuit of shortstop Tejada is going to fail.

According to a club source, "There is no way you can do both."

Another factor that would have a bearing is whether the Mariners can come to agreement with Winn, with talks under way since the signing of reliever Eddie Guardado.

If Winn takes a deal that will save Seattle some money, not much more than the $4.5 million he made last year, he is likely to open the 2004 season in center, between Raul Ibanez in left and Ichiro in right.

But if not, with Seattle reluctant to tender Winn a contract on Dec. 20 and open the door to arbitration, the idea of testing the waters with Guerrero may grow.

However, it would take a number of factors to reach a realistic number, since Guerrero will be easily the most expensive free agent of the winter.

Montreal reportedly offered $75 million for five years in a failed attempt to keep him, and Baltimore has been rumored to have offered $90 million for six years.

So if the Mariners are trying to get Winn as cheaply as possible, how do they even dream of Guerrero, at least three times more expensive?

The basis is the money that would not be going to Tejada, some $8 million to $10 million for four or five years.

Then with the signing of Guardado for the bullpen and the possibility this could free up Rafael Soriano to move to the starting rotation, Freddy Garcia could be moved to free up another $8 million to $10 million.

There is another X factor in considerations of Guerrero — the glitch that has developed with the Yankees and Gary Sheffield. If that breaks up the three-year, $39 million deal they shook hands on last week, George Steinbrenner assuredly will turn to Guerrero.

If Guerrero gets involved with the Yankees, Baltimore might go hard after Tejada, although agent Cuza is reputedly no pal of Orioles owner Peter Angelos, which could complicate their efforts to get Guerrero and/or Tejada.

The Mariners are expected to be active in talks about a trade for Garcia this weekend in New Orleans, ideally but not necessarily in a package with third baseman Jeff Cirillo.

Posted: Thu - December 11, 2003 at 05:04 PM      

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