Guardado's $13M smile: M's sign closer to three-year deal
With Eddie Guardado agreeing to a three-year contract worth $13 million, including a chance to earn $4 million more in bonuses if he is the closer, the Mariners have taken a big step toward shaping up their bullpen.
And very possibly reshaping their starting rotation.
Of more potential importance than adding a proven performer in pennant races to the relief corps is the fact Guardado, an All-Star the past two seasons, gives Seattle room to trade starting pitcher Freddy Garcia.
"Potentially, this could leave us free to make other moves," said Lee Pelekoudas, Seattle's assistant general manager. "There is always a possibility of changes in other areas of the pitching staff."
The chain reaction starts with former Minnesota Twins closer Guardado coming in ostensibly as a setup man for Kazu Sasaki, which frees up Rafael Soriano or, less likely, Julio Mateo to move into the rotation.
In turn, that means Garcia could be moved before Seattle is faced with the prospect of paying him $8 million to $9 million as an arbitration-eligible player.
To that end, Seattle officials could go into the winter meetings, which start Friday in New Orleans, with a goal of finding out what they might get in trade for the big right-hander.
While it is uncertain if Seattle can take on much salary in return — otherwise, they might offer him to San Diego for third baseman Phil Nevin — Garcia could be packaged with third baseman Jeff Cirillo, along with at least some of the $15.25 million still due Cirillo over the next two years.
"We've heard the Mariners have had a good amount of interest in Freddy (from other teams)," one National League scout said. "If they're serious about moving him, they should be able to. He's had some problems winning, but the guy's got great stuff, even if he has some growing up to do."
The problem facing Seattle or any team trying to trade at this point in the offseason is that teams interested in their players might try to wait until after Dec. 20, the deadline to find out if those players will be tendered contracts.
Players tendered a contract on that date are eligible for arbitration if a contract settlement cannot be worked out, and Seattle's internal debate is whether Garcia, who flopped in the second half the past two years, is worth the money he might get in arbitration.
"For $8 million or $9 million, you want to know what you are getting," a scout said. "Good as Garcia can be, you don't know. So that's a tough one for Seattle."
With the possibility of moving Garcia one way or another, the Mariners already have Soriano being used as a starter in winter ball at home in the Dominican Republic to build up his arm and his innings after he worked only 112 this summer, splitting the 2003 season between Class AAA Tacoma and Seattle.
Pelekoudas, who worked with agent Kevin Kohler and team attorney Bart Waldman in shaping what for the Mariners was a complex contract with Guardado, pointed out that GM Bill Bavasi and manager Bob Melvin have not yet had an opportunity to sit and discuss more extensive moves.
"Bill really just got to town, and we've been moving ahead trying to talk to people and get some guys signed," Pelekoudas said. "Other stuff would be down the road a bit. There just hasn't been a chance for that type of discussion."
The Guardado deal calls for at least $13 million over three years, including a signing bonus, more than the three-year, $12 million offer Arthur Rhodes rejected last spring.
Also, in clauses that were the key to the agreement, Guardado can opt out if he is not projected to succeed Kazu Sasaki as closer for 2005, or again if he is not projected as the closer in 2006.
Should Guardado, who saved 45 and 41 games the past two seasons, become the Mariners' closer, the contract is thought to jump by $2 million in each of its last two years.
This setup works fine for Guardado, who was believed to have a similar setup in his just-ended three-year deal with Minnesota.
"I'm not selfish," the reliever said. "I want to do whatever I can to help the team, whatever Bob Melvin wants me to do. I hope I don't close games next season, because that might mean there's something wrong with Sasaki and he's a hell of a pitcher."
However, both sides have options on each year of the deal.
Should the team not want him back for 2005 or 2006, it can refuse to exercise its options.
While not talking numbers, Pelekoudas said the contract with those kinds of stipulations is a first for the Mariners.
"The deal is a credit to Eddie and Kevin (Kohler)," he said. "We essentially look at it as a three-year guaranteed contract. We wanted Eddie and are very happy to have him with us."
Kohler's background in business arbitration was a key factor in reaching agreement.
"When you start with two people who basically want to make a deal, you put your cards on the table and you come up with something fair for both sides," Kohler said.
To that end in this deal, in which new hitting coach Paul Molitor had a hand in convincing Guardado to come with him from the Twins, Guardado winds up overpaid if he remains as a setup man and underpaid if he moves into the closing role.
And on a day when rival Anaheim bulked up its rotation with Bartolo Colon, the Mariners wound up with the best bullpen in the American League, stronger even than the Jeff Nelson/Rhodes-led group of the past few years.
"What Seattle has done is shorten games to six innings again," an AL scout said. "If you don't have a lead by then, you better not count on getting one."
Bob Finnigan: 206-464-8276 or bfinnigan@seattletimes.com
Guardado by the numbers2.89: His ERA last season.
13: The number of seasons spent in the Minnesota Twins organization.
33: Guardado's age.
41: The number of saves he had with the Twins last season.
.207: What opposing batters hit against Guardado in 2003.