Interesting little piece here from the Seattle Post - Intelligencer;

 

The Mariners could, however, opt to go with a younger player. One baseball official speculated that the White Sox have two available catchers at Class AAA: Jamie Burke, an Oregon native; and Ben Davis, the former Mariner who is currently on the disabled list because of a finger injury.

 

Prior to the Gonzalez injury, Burke, who went to Oregon State, was designated for assignment and cleared waivers -- meaning no team put up the $20,000 necessary to make a claim -- and chose to report to Charlotte in lieu of free agency.

 

Burke, 33, has a .328 average and zero home runs in 73 big league games. He can also play the outfield and third base.

 

"Wherever Jamie could get a chance to play in the big leagues, he'd be interested," said Burke's agent, Nick Lampros. "He's a great insurance policy for the White Sox, but he's so multi-dimensional that if they don't have plans to use him at the big league level, I would hope they'd try to move him."

 

And maybe here's our chance to get a lefty;

While the Mariners are experiencing a catching shortage, they are enjoying an excess of a scarce luxury in baseball: left-handed pitching.

 

The Mariners last night had four southpaws in the bullpen -- Eddie Guardado, Matt Thornton, Ron Villone and George Sherrill -- and another, Jamie Moyer, in the rotation. Two more lefties, Travis Blackley and Bobby Madritsch, are on the disabled list.

 

"That's a lot," said Sherrill, who was sent back to Tacoma after the game to make room for right-hander Jorge Campillo, who was promoted to work in long relief.

 

How rare is it? No other American League team has that many left-handed relievers. Hargrove, in his 14th year as a big league manager, can't remember having four lefties in his bullpen.

 

"I assume it happened, but I don't know when," he said.

 

It isn't likely to happen again. Hargrove said the club wouldn't carry four lefties in the bullpen after right-hander Joel Pineiro rejoins the rotation on May 24.

 

It could happen that one of those lefties will be packaged in a deal for the backup catcher. The team is carrying seven relievers, and at some point in the coming months will have to clear roster space for the expected returns of Pokey Reese, Bucky Jacobsen, and Scott Spiezio, so that could be a bit of opportunistic arithmetic.

I'd be happy to take Villone off their hands for Burke.

I'd be happy to take Villone off their hands for Burke.

Bill Bavasi would be laughing at that. A lot of teams wanted Villone last off-season, because he was one of the few relievers available who could actually get LHH out.

I wonder if Seattle would be interested in trading Soriano?? Is he still hurt?

Oh, I have no doubt about that. My post was in response to their suggesting one of that group could be traded for a backup C.

 

Besides, they might be a little gun-shy about trading with us after all the success they've had with the last group they got from us.

I wonder if Seattle would be interested in trading Soriano?? Is he still hurt?

He had quite some value at the start of last season before he got injured. Latest news on him from last month;

 

Mariners placed RHP Rafael Soriano on the 60-day disabled list following Tommy John surgery.

Soriano, who underwent surgery in August, is expected back sometime after the All-Star break.

At this point I would take any of those guys if it meant that we would see less of Neal Cotts.

I know there was word the Sox were interested in Guardado at one point or another and he is a lefty...he would be awesome to get, of course it would take a lot more than Burke to get him though.

I know there was word the Sox were interested in Guardado at one point or another and he is a lefty...he would be awesome to get, of course it would take a lot more than Burke to get him though.

 

And as long as Seattle is even close, they won't be trading Everyday Eddie.

And as long as Seattle is even close, they won't be trading Everyday Eddie.

Which leaves Billy Wagner. :uhoh

Hermie is just fine, thank you very much.

I dont think I want any of those guys from seattle, but if it gives Burke a chance to make the bigs on another team, we should give him that chance, he has been very loyal to the club and deserves a shot somewhere.

Speculated.

 

That word speculated rears its ugly head once more.

 

Don't puch much stock into this fellas. IMO, Kenny would be foolish to change up anything right now, even if it means losing either Ben of Jamie. That said, I don't think I'd be shedding any tears with the loss of Mr. Davis.

Edited May 18, 200520 yr by AddisonStSox

At this point I would take any of those guys if it meant that we would see less of Neal Cotts.

 

im more happy with cotts than viz and shinjo just because viz was last pitcher used in a game when ozzie blew it, it makes him an instint HeRo????

Trade them Ben Davis and a prospect (Borchard ) for Ron Villone.

Edited May 18, 200520 yr by Jabroni

I don't give a s***, get Eddie.

I don't give a s***, get Eddie.

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Eddie would be great but would cost a nut-load. Villone would only cost us a backup catcher and a marginal prospect. We just need another lefty, we don't exactly need a lefty closer (even though it would be nice).

I wouldnt mind trading either of those guys for soriano... he injured now but could really help us once he returns...

I wouldnt mind trading either of those guys for soriano... he injured now but could really help us once he returns...

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The Mariners aren't going to trade their young pitching talent and no team is going to want an injured prospect anyways.

The Mariners aren't going to trade their young pitching talent and no team is going to want an injured prospect anyways.

 

 

we are trading Ben Davis or Jaimie Burke.... who cares if he is injured, most people come back stronger from TJS... and if not its not like we lost anything special.

we are trading Ben Davis or Jaimie Burke.... who cares if he is injured, most people come back stronger from TJS... and if not its not like we lost anything special. 

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They wouldn't give up Rafael Soriano for Ben Davis or Jamie Burke and a prospect.

F'in Joe "DA BOMB" Borchard is enough to tip the scales on any trade, what are you talking about?

 

This is one guy I wish they would have traded two years ago when he had ANY value.

Hermie is just fine, thank you very much.

 

Guardado wouldn't close - he'd setup or something. However, I prefer Villone.

Let's get real on the value of these 2. First Ben Davis. He was a throw- in by these same Mariners last year, and hasn't played well enough to be in the major leagues. Jaime Burke has been available to Seattle 2 or 3 times for the $20,000 waiver price. They passed both times. I know their circumstance has changed, but there is no way in hell they are going to give up a decent relief pitcher for either of these guys.

Let's get real on the value of these 2. First Ben Davis. He was a throw- in by these same Mariners last year, and hasn't played well enough to be in the major leagues. Jaime Burke has been available to Seattle 2 or 3 times for the $20,000 waiver price. They passed both times. I know their circumstance has changed, but there is no way in hell they are going to give up a decent relief pitcher for either of these guys.

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I think (and hope) most people realize that we would also have to throw in a prospect(s) to get a guy like Ron Villone.