710 ESPN Seattle's Shannon Drayer
Updated Dec 14, 2009 - 5:35 pm
Blockbuster Update
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digg thisWe are still working to get names but it could be some time before this gets announced. First thing that needs to happen is that Philly needs to get the contract extension with Halladay worked out. Then physicals need to take place. All indications are that this will not officially be announced until Wednesday.
Cliff Lee is a huge get. Talked to a couple of players in the last hour and they are completely fired up about this. The question is, who goes the other way.
Let me stress here, no confirmation yet but two names we are consistently hearing are Phillippe Aumont and Tyson Gilles. Adam Moore does not appear to be in the deal nor does Michael Saunders though the Blue Jays are believed to have interest in him.
Brandon Morrow's name is coming up more and more. Remember that the Mariners are basically trading for a rent a player as Lee has only one year remaining on his contract and there is no indication that he is looking to extend now. Doesn't mean it can't happen down the road.
When this trade is completed the Mariners will have an ace in Felix and a number one in Lee. In addition to bringing quality Lee is an innings eater averaging almost 230 innings the past three years. This helps the bullpen immensely. And they might not be done in the starting department. Rosenthal and Morosi are reporting on foxsports.com that the M's were actually looking for two starters. This is the first I have heard of this but it makes sense because I always believed that going after Harden did not exclude Lackey. If that is the case it bumps RRS down to four and Snell to five, although there are no promises to the latter as far as the rotation goes. What if Morrow is not dealt? Talk about starting pitching depth.
One more thing. The Mariners still have dollars to spend, although Lee will take a chunk of them, even without spending those dollars there are attractive possible diamond in the rough candidate free agents out there. Can Zduriencik pull another Branyan out of his hat?
I wrote earlier and am now reading it elsewhere that if Boston makes Buchholz available they go to the top of the list with the Padres should they decide to trade Gonzalez. That is one piece of potential bad news.
Let's finish this with good news. Anaheim is getting absolutely shut out on the pitching front. No Lackey and no Halladay.
Will keep you posted on this.
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