Wilkerson Could Play Right

Last season, Jose Guillen patrolled right field for the Seattle Mariners, batting .290 with 23 homeruns and 99 RBIs. That was more than most expected from the journeyman slugger. But the Mariners knew Guillen wasn't part of their future plans, so they let the 31-year-old leave over the winter via free agency.

Of course, the Mariners believed they had their starting right fielder in youngster Adam Jones. A first-round pick in 2003, Jones quickly developed in the minors, tearing up Triple-A Tacoma last season with 25 homeruns and 85 RBIs. The 22-year-old appeared in 41 games with the Mariners in 2007, hitting .246 with two homeruns and four RBIs in 65 at-bats.

It was believed Jones could be Seattle's right fielder for the next decade, but that changed when the Baltimore Orioles put left-hander Erik Bedard on the market. Desperate for a No. 1 starter, the Mariners are reportedly close to finalizing a deal that will send Jones to Baltimore for Bedard.

If the deal goes through, the Mariners could be scrambling to find a replacement in right. One option is Triple-A outfielder Wladimir Balentien, who posted 24 homers, 24 doubles, and 84 RBIs for Tacoma last year. But the Mariners are also said to be interested in free agent Brad Wilkerson. The 30-year-old Wilkerson has proven to be extremely productive when healthy, but the problem is keeping his left-handed bat in the lineup. He missed 110 games with the Texas Rangers over the past two years. Even if they sign Wilkerson, the Mariners would be wise to have a backup plan.

Sexson Needs to Rebound

The Seattle Mariners are hoping Richie Sexson can rediscover his swing in 2008. Last year, Sexon had a season he'd like to forget, batting just .205 with 21 homeruns and 63 RBIs. That dismal average was the lowest of his 11-year career, and the homeruns and RBIs were his worst production ever in a season in which he played at least 100 games. It was a shocking turn of events for Sexson, who had all but cemented his status as one of baseball's premier power hitters.

At 6'8", 237 pounds, Sexson is a towering presence at the plate. His long limbs generate tremendous power through the zone, allowing him to hit some truly titanic clouts. He first exploded on the scene in 1999 with the Cleveland Indians, swatting 31 homeruns and 116 RBIs. The next year, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, but switching to National League pitching didn't seem to bother him in the least. The lanky first baseman connected for another 30 homeruns that year and 119 more over his next three seasons with the Brew Crew.

After one disastrous, injury-riddled season in Arizona, Sexson came to the Mariners in 2005 and quickly endeared himself to fans with 39 homeruns and 121 RBIs. In 2006, he added 34 homers and another 107 RBIs.

Sexson, who's entering the final year of a four-year, $50-million contract, will need similar numbers this season if the Mariners expect to compete in the American League West.

Rotation Shaping Up

Spring training begins in less than three weeks, and the Seattle Mariners are still looking for an ace at the front of their pitching rotation. The problem would be solved in a big way if the Mariners are able to acquire left-hander Erik Bedard from the Baltimore Orioles, as is currently being rumored in baseball circles. The deal would seem imminent, and it can't come soon enough for Mariners fans, who haven't been able to watch a dominant starter since the days of Randy Johnson.

If Bedard does end up in Seattle, he will instantly become the team's top pitcher, giving them a No. 1 starter capable of competing against the other elite hurlers in the American League. Bedard's arrival would also bump 21-year-old Felix Hernandez to second in the rotation, which would no doubt prove beneficial for his continued development. When right, Hernandez can be electrifying, but young pitchers are seldom known for their consistency. He'd be much better served in the No. 2 spot in the rotation.

Jarrod Washburn would then be dropped down to the No. 3 starter, while veteran Carlos Silva, who was signed over the winter from Minnesota, will slide into the No. 4 spot. That would leave the fifth spot to Miguel Batista, who was 16-11 last year for the Mariners. That wouldn't be a bad rotation from top to bottom, but it all hinges on acquiring Bedard. Without Bedard leading the way, things wouldn't be nearly as optimistic.

New Coaching Staff

John McLaren is about to begin his first official season as the manager of the Seattle Mariners, and he's making sure the team reflects his personality. McLaren, who took over as interim skipper in the middle of last season when Mike Hargrove stepped down, spent the winter overhauling his coaching staff.

Pitching coach Rafael Chaves, bullpen coach Jim Slaton, bench coach Mike Goff, first-base coach Gary Thurman, and third-base coach Carlos Garcia have all been let go. To replace them, McLaren has brought in pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre, bullpen coach Norm Charlton, bench coach Jim Riggleman, first-base coach Eddie Rodriguez, and third-base coach Sam Perlozzo.

The new coaching staff is loaded with experience. That's a big change from the previous staff, which had an average age of 44 and absolutely no major league managerial experience. The average age of the new group will be 55, but those extra years come with plenty of knowledge. Riggleman has managed in the big leagues for seven years, while Perlozzo ran a club for one season and parts of two others. Of course, Stottlemyre needs no introduction, having served as the pitching coach for Joe Torre and the New York Yankees during their World Series championships in the late 1990s.

McLaren will also be implementing a unique system of "guest" coaches, which will feature former Mariners players Jay Buhner and Dan Wilson, former Mariners coach Lee Elia, and former big-leaguer Tony Phillips all assisting on a part-time basis.

If McLaren and the Mariners fail this season, it won't be for a lack of coaching.

Bedard to Mariners?

Rumors are swirling that the Seattle Mariners are close to acquiring Baltimore Orioles ace Erik Bedard. In exchange for the stud left-hander, the Mariners will give Baltimore a package of prospects, including heralded outfielder Adam Jones. In a sign that the deal is indeed imminent, Jones has been called back from the Venezuelan League and is on his way to Baltimore for a physical.

Jones, Seattle's first-round pick in 2003, appeared in 41 games for the Mariners last season, hitting .246 with two home runs and four RBIs in 65 at-bats. But the 22-year-old was exceptional at Triple-A Tacoma, belting 25 home runs and 85 RBIs. He was slated to be the Mariners' starting right fielder in 2008, but you have to give up something to get something. And the Mariners are getting a lot in Bedard.

Over the past two seasons, Bedard has emerged as one of the best pitchers in baseball, going 28-16 for the otherwise dismal Orioles. A strained oblique muscle limited him to only 28 starts last season, but he still went 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and a career-high 221 strikeouts. Even though he's one of the game's premier power pitchers, Bedard also has remarkable control, walking only 57 batters in 182 innings.

Bedard will give the Mariners a legitimate No. 1 starter for the top of the rotation, and he'll also help take some pressure off young phenomenon Felix Hernandez.

Ichiro Adds Hardware

Ichiro Suzuki has had a busy off-season, adding even more hardware to his already impressive trophy collection. After winning his seventh consecutive Gold Glove for his brilliant play in the outfield, Ichiro has now won his second Silver Slugger Award.

The Silver Slugger is awarded to players who are deemed to be the best offensive producers at their particular position. A vote of Major League managers and coaches determines the winners.

Ichiro finished the 2007 season with a .351 batting average, six homeruns, 68 RBI, 111 runs, and 37 stolen bases. The .351 average was second in the Major Leagues and the second-best mark of his storied career, trailing only the .372 average he posted in 2004. Ichiro's 68 RBI were only one less than his career-high, and his 37 stolen bases give him seven consecutive seasons with at least 30 steals.

Ichiro and Detroit's Placido Polanco were the only American Leaguers to win both the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. In the National League, Los Angeles' Russell Martin, Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins, and New York's Carlos Beltran and David Wright all managed to win both awards.

Joining Ichiro and Polanco as American League Silver Sluggers are Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena, Detroit's Magglio Ordonez, Los Angeles' Vladimir Guerrero, Boston's David Ortiz, and New York's Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez.

Arizona's Micah Owings, Milwaukee's Prince Fielder, Philadelphia's Chase Utley, Colorado's Matt Holliday, and Houston's Carlos Lee round out the National League Silver Sluggers.

Mariners Eye Kuroda

The Seattle Mariners are looking overseas to solve their starting pitching woes. Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi and manager John McLaren traveled to Japan this week to meet with Hiroki Kuroda, the top free-agent pitcher in the baseball-crazed nation.

Kuroda, 32, was 12-8 with a 3.56 ERA last season for the Hiroshima Carp of the Central League. In the past, he's led the league in both wins and ERA, compiling a career 103-89 record and 3.69 ERA in 11 seasons with Hiroshima. The right-hander reportedly has exceptional control and a fastball that can reach the mid-90s. If he's everything he's cracked up to be, Kuroda could be the perfect fit for Seattle's sagging rotation.

The Mariners have a history of success when signing Japanese players. Of course, Ichiro Suzuki made an immediate impact when he arrived in 2001 and is now the franchise's cornerstone, using his speed and uncanny skills with the bat to emerge as one of baseball's biggest superstars. In 2006, the Mariners welcomed catcher Kenji Johjima, who's quickly become a fixture in the lineup. Johjima has hit .289 with 32 homeruns and 137 RBI in his first two seasons with the club.

Seattle could have plenty of competition in its quest to sign Kuroda. Unlike Daisuke Matsuzaka, who created an insane bidding war last winter before eventually signing with the Boston Red Sox, Kuroda doesn't require an exorbitant posting fee under the rules of Japanese baseball. But Kuroda has said he'll like to sign with a West Coast team, and having Ichiro and Johjima certainly won't hurt Seattle's chances.