Starting Pitcher: M’s could trade Washburn
Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com believes the Mariners are looking to cut payroll now, and may need to consider trading RHP Jarrod Washburn, 3B Adrian Beltre or Miguel Batista to do so.
The 34–year-old, left-handed Washburn was 5–14 with a 4.69 ERA in 153 innings for the M’s last season, during which opponents struck out just 87 times and hit .287 against him.
Washburn, who has a no-trade clause, will earn $10.3 million this season, after which he will be a free agent.
He has not had a winning record since 2004, and has not finished a season with an ERA under 4.30 since 2005.
…man, i didn’t realize how much washnburn has been struggling in seattle… i wonder if a switch to the National League would help him… if anything, he could provide leverage for a team negotiating with Randy Wolf, or Oliver Perez… however, to do so, the M’s would need to eat close to half that balance, to bring him down to around $5 million per season, and i’m not, at that point, why a team would trade a prospect to get him, when they could just sign wolf… though, he’s an interesting option…
Batista will earn $9 million in 2009, after which he is a free agent.
During the last three season, he has made 26 relief appearances and 85 starts, while going 31–33 with a 4.85 ERA, during which right-handed batters hit .266 against him, while lefties hit .305.
