better hope he gives you the home team discount..but i wouldnt count on it.

this one I can see happening...they'd pay to get Bay, but it would be a needed step after resigning Junior. and people do like living out here.

hopefully the red sox make a push to keep bay

yes they could...next question....

How can they have all this money for Bay and Lackey but still talk about not being able to afford King Felix????

This sounds alot like Bay's Agent working over the Boston Media to have them think yet another team is on Bay's list...

And they could sign any of the other 115 Free agents too. Good story Globe - top notch, top notch!!!

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 10:39 AM ET  11.15 by jnorman41

How can they have all this money for Bay and Lackey but still talk about not being able to afford King Felix????

BINGO-
sign your OWN stud pitcher who could be there for 10-12 more years before you sign up a couple of 30+year olds

Halos aren't gonna let him sign within the division...

This is pathetic by T&R trying to drum up nonsense. The clip posted is so misrepresentative of the story which says..................

Watch the Mariners. They don???t think they???re far away from being serious contenders for the AL West title. Toward that end, they should be very serious suitors for Lackey; not only would he be a force in the rotation after Felix Hernandez, but they would be taking him away from the chief competition in the division, the Angels.

Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik did a tremendous job last offseason changing the culture of the franchise and bringing the Mariners back to respectability. Now he needs to take the next step. The first thing he did was re-sign Ken Griffey, not so much for what he can still do as a hitter, but for his leadership. Griffey???s signing does not preclude the Mariners from going out and getting another DH or power hitter, according to Zduriencik.

The Mariners are expected to make a push for Bay, who lives in the Seattle area, and add pitching, both in the rotation and the bullpen. Whether they can add two big-ticket items like Bay and Lackey remains to be seen.

???I think they???ve been one of the most aggressive organizations in the early going,?????? said an American League GM. ???They aren???t as restricted with their budget like other organizations are, so they have a chance to do some things.??????

The Mariners are expected to make an offer to Hernandez this offseason in an effort to keep him for a long time. They also will likely make another attempt at Adrian Gonzalez, as they did at last season???s trading deadline.

If the M's can pull it off, then good for them. This is what free agency is all about. Your favorite team making a concerted effort to compete.

How 'bout my Buckeyes?

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 05:50 PM ET  11.15 by Clintster

If the M's can pull it off, then good for them. This is what free agency is all about. Your favorite team making a concerted effort to compete.How 'bout my Buckeyes?

I think they just signed a few HS Srs to 4 year contracts w/free vehicle (of their choice)stuntmen(to perform tests ) and girls (that put out for athletes more than Kardashians)

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 12:12 PM ET  11.15 by da big bumout

Halos aren't gonna let him sign within the division...

You figure the Halos are going to have a say in where he signs?

If the Mariners were serious about trying to contend in the near future instaed of the long-term, signing (or trading for) 2 top-tier free-agents/players would be a smart move. Going after Lackey seems sound, though they don't have a prayer if the Yankees or Mets enter the fray of bidding (as they are expected to do). I think if Seattle were serious, they'd steer away from 1 dimensional guys (Bay, Matsui, Damon) and guys coming off of career years (Byrd, for one example). If they're thinking long-term, the Mariners would be shrewd to go after someone young enough to contribute long-term on both ends of the game. One name being bandied about is Granderson from the Tigers. He's only 28, a plus defender, has the rare combination of speed & power, and is an excellent clubhouse leader. Another guy to look for would be Brad Hawpe, who could be had for an attractive package of prospects, as the Rockies are looking to pare payroll and may be interested in going younger in one OF spot.

Regardless of who and how they go for an ace and an OF, they'd be wise to try to either re-sign Bedard or pursue Rich Harden to ink an incentive-based contract because they can both be an ace when healthy, and are certianly worth the risk if the M's are looking to fortify #3-4 in the rotation with a solid presence.

Bay is a poor defender and is going to be vastly overpaid in a weak FA market. He's going to give you 25 or so HR a year, true, but with liability of a glove in the field. In other words, he's a slightly more athetic version of Pat Burrell or Geoff Jenkins that's going to get Carlos Beltran money. The M's would be smart to pass and let Minaya or Epstein get saddled with another bad contract, opting to avoid the Sexson/Beltre albatross of the last several years. Holliday would be a beetr fit, as would a stop-gap contract with Vlad, Dye, or Cameron. If the M's push hard after Bay, they're only going to be able to blame themselves... and their GM will be able to start to count the days until he is replaced in 2011 due to continued mediocrity.

Probably not.

The Mariners are flush with cash after jettisoning almost all of former GM Bavasi's disaster signings (only pitcher Silva remains) so rumors concerning Bay and Lackey would naturally surface. We have been hearing them here in Seattle since the end of the WS. We are happy with the direction Jackie Z. is taking our club but I think he prefers not to get into a bidding war. We know too well that as soon as Boston and New York get involved, for us anyway, the ratio of cost to value tanks dramatically.

The M's should get Felix signed first (probably gonna take $100 Million fer 10 years). If there is any money left in the bank after that, then go after Bay and/or Lackey.

Jackie Z., Felix and his agent are all saying the right things. The media always likes to stir the pot. But then again, I remember Pay-Rod saying all the same things his last season here before bolting to the Rangers. "It's not about the money, it's all about winning and Seattle is tops on my list...." yada yada yada.....

QUOTE(#17):

Originally posted 11:36 AM ET  11.16 by CJB1

The M's should get Felix signed first (probably gonna take $100 Million fer 10 years). If there is any money left in the bank after that, then go after Bay and/or Lackey.

No way Felix will accept $10 million a year. If he goes out into FA, he'll command $20+ million a year.

I wish, but I don't think the money is there.