Mariners continue pitch for Sexson
Bavasi meets the free agent slugger for the first time
By Jim Street / MLB.com
ANAHEIM -- Geography worked against the Mariners in their pursuit of
right-handed pitcher Carl Pavano, but they're still in the hunt for
Northwest-raised slugger Richie Sexson.
The second day of the Winter Meetings started with club officials being
informed that Pavano had decided to negotiate a multiyear contract
exclusively with the Yankees so that he could remain near his family in
Connecticut.
But later on Saturday, the Mariners had a face-to-face meeting with Sexson,
and it went well.
"We didn't know he would be here," general manager Bill Bavasi said. "It was
nice to meet him and I think it was helpful to us and helpful to him, too.
[Manager Mike Hargrove] knows him well, but it was the first time I had met
him."
The 6-foot-8 free agent first baseman from Vancouver, Wash., was an imposing
figure as he walked through the lobby of the Anaheim Marriott, ducking to
miss one ceiling near an elevator.
The Mariners believe a healthy Sexson, who missed most of last season with
Arizona because of a shoulder injury, could generate considerable offensive
firepower in the middle of a lineup that lacked run production in 2004.
Sexson hit 45 home runs for the Brewers in 2001 and '03, and has 200 home
runs in his six-plus MLB seasons.
The Mariners are hopeful of signing both Sexson and free agent first baseman
Carlos Delgado. That probably would mean Sexson plays left field most of the
time.
"He would explore that possibility, but only if the person playing first base
was a proven All-Star like Carlos Delgado," agent Casey Close said. "But a
team that wants him to play [left field] is probably not his first option."
The Mariners have an offer for Sexson on the table, believed to be for four
years at close to $40 million, but they shouldn't count on securing Sexson's
services because he wants to play close to home.
"There is no geographical favorite," Close said.
Too bad for the Mariners that Pavano didn't feel the same way.
"Seattle had everything going for them," said Scott Shapiro, Pavano's agent.
"The only reason Carl isn't going to Seattle is the fact it is not his
hometown. He's from Connecticut and his parents are there. It's a lot
different when your mom can be hanging out with her kid on a daily basis at
the ballpark as opposed to taking a flight out to Seattle."
Shapiro said his client was impressed with the Mariners organization, the
city and Safeco Field.
"We felt we had walked into the Taj Mahal when we visited Safeco Field," he
said. "The Mariners bent over backwards to accommodate Carl."
Shapiro said the offer Pavano received from Seattle was "absolutely"
competitive to the proposals received from the Orioles, Tigers, Yankees and
Red Sox.
"We had a shot," Bavasi said. " I don't know if you guys [reporters] had
called around on this guy, but he would have been a good fit and we worked
hard on it. But [Pavano] had said from the start that the issue was going to
be emotional and personal and not solely about money. We have no idea, but
from what Scott told us, our offer was at least as good, or a little better,
as New York's."
Pavano and the Yankees reportedly are close to finalizing a four-year
contract worth almost $40 million.
While the Mariners struck out in their effort to land a starting pitcher that
posted an 18-8 record and 3.00 ERA last season, the door might have opened
for another try at signing right-hander Jaret Wright.
Wright, who had a 15-8 record for the AL East champion Braves last season,
encountered some difficulties during a physical and his three-year, $21
million deal with the Yankees has been put on hold pending a second opinion
on his right shoulder.
"I haven't figured that one out yet," Bavasi said. "I made contact with
[Wright's agent, Greg Clifton], but that's as far as I have gone. I haven't
seen anything official so don't want to mess around with that."
In other news (or rumors) involving the Mariners:
One NL official said the Mariners are Mets discussed a potential trade that
would bring shortstop Kaz Matsui to Seattle for a starting pitcher.
Third baseman Corey Koskie remains a possible free agent acquisition.
The Giants are seeking a left-handed reliever and Ron Villone could be on
their wish list. The Mariners offered Villone salary arbitration and he has
until Dec. 19 to accept the offer.
Jim Street is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the
approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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