Mariners close to signing Carlos Silva

[AmarilloRed]

Sources: M's in serious talks with Silva
Ken Rosenthal
FOXSports.com, Updated 1 hour ago



Carlos Silva, perhaps the top starting pitcher remaining on the free-agent market, does not figure to be available much longer.

The Mariners are in serious negotiations with Silva on a contract that would be worth at least $44 million over four years, according to major-league sources.

For the Mariners, the signing of Silva would put them halfway toward their goal of adding two starting pitchers this off-season. They also are pursuing Orioles left-hander Erik Bedard in a trade.

Silva, 28, became a primary focus for the Mariners after they lost Japanese free-agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda to the Dodgers over the weekend.

Kuroda, 32, signed for $35.3 million over three years — less than what he was offered by both the Royals and Mariners, sources said.


Silva spent the past four seasons with the Twins, averaging 12 wins, 193 innings and a 4.42 ERA. He was 13-14 with a 4.19 ERA last season, and likely would benefit from a move to Seattle's pitcher-friendly Safeco Field.

The Mariners' rotation currently includes right-handers Felix Hernandez and Miguel Batista and lefty Jarrod Washburn. Righty Brandon Morrow could join that group if he is not packaged in a deal for a pitcher such as Bedard.

A deal of $44 million or above for Silva would represent an advance in the market for second-tier starting pitchers. The Brewers' Jeff Suppan received $42 million and the Cubs' Ted Lilly $40 million in four-year, free-agent contracts last off-season.

This might affect the trade talk for Eric Bedard. The Mariners are still looking for a starting pitcher, but it is no longer a necessity for them to land Bedard.

[captainmorgan07]

let them waste their money. im glad wayne didn't sing this guy. he's no where near close to being worth that much money.

[Bip Roberts]

good news for us

[thatcoolguy_22]

good news for us

very good news for us.

1) will prevent WK from reaching for him
2) the m's might back out of the bedard chase, one less bidder equals that much less needed to bid in the prospect auction

[AmarilloRed]

I suppose it is more likely they will continue to push hard for Bedard. They are still looking for 2 starting pitchers. Brandon Morrow could be in their rotation, but I expect they would like to upgrade to Eric Bedard if the price is not too high.

[hippie07]

Yeah! if the M's get him, they likely will back off Bedard... maybe not completely, but maybe enough to put us in the lead!!!

[AmarilloRed]

Silva signing could be announced by Thursday

When you look at Carlos Silva, you see a young veteran who has one of the best sinkers in the game.

Because of that, he gets lots of ground ball outs. How good a fit would that be in Safeco Field, a place that better accommodates fly ball pitchers?

We're close to finding out, because the Mariners could announce they're signing him as early as Thursday.

A ground ball pitcher needs a good infield defense behind him, and the Mariners have only half of that at this point. The left side of the infield, third baseman Adrian Beltre and shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, are among the best in the game defensively.

The right side of the infield, second baseman Jose Lopez and first baseman Richie Sexson, aren't.

So while a better infield defense could mean a better return on the $44 million the Mariners are offering Silva over four years, the Mariners are only halfway there.

On the other hand, there are other reasons to like Silva.

He's 16-8 with a 3.48 ERA against American League West teams, although that's a less impressive 11-7 if you take away his 5-1 record against the Mariners since moving into the Twins' starting rotation.

He has pitched well in Safeco Field, though, going 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA.

More than that, he has been durable, and durability is something the Mariners could use much more of. He has been over the 200-innings mark twice, in 2004 and again in 2007, and he's averaged 193.1 innings his last four seasons.

That means he can get into the seventh inning with regularity, which would take some of the burden off a bullpen that wore down from overuse in 2007.

Silva is likely to be introduced to Seattle sometime Thursday.

It is about to become official.

[AmarilloRed]

Source: Silva, Mariners agree to deal
By Jim Street / MLB.com


The Mariners and free agent right-hander Carlos Silva have reached agreement on a multiyear contract, according to an American League source, and the deal could be finalized as early as Thursday, pending the outcome of a physical.

Club officials contacted late Wednesday afternoon would not confirm the signing, however.

It is believed that the 28-year-old Silva will receive a four-year, $44 million pact to help improve a starting rotation that lacked starters that pitched deep into games last season.

Silva falls into the innings-eater category, averaging more than 190 innings during the past four seasons with the Twins. He made 33 starts in 2007 and pitched at least six innings in 24 of them, including a pair of complete games. Seattle had just six complete games as a staff last season, half of them by departed right-hander Jeff Weaver.

Silva has a 55-46 record in six MLB seasons and is 47-45 with a 4.46 ERA in 125 big-league starts. He has been successful against AL West teams, posting an overall 16-8 record with a 3.48 ERA. He is 5-1 against the Angels, 3-2 against the Athletics and 3-4 against the Rangers.

He also is 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA in four career starts at Safeco Field.

Exactly where the Mariners go from here remains questionable. General manager Bill Bavasi's goal going into the offseason was to add to two starting pitchers. Adding Silva to the mix would accomplish that mission as Seattle selected knuckleball specialist R.A. Dickey in the Rule 5 Draft during the Winter Meetings.

Dickey was selected as the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year after compiling a 10-2 record from June 1 through the end of the season for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.

With Silva aboard, it might enable the Mariners to back off on their efforts to acquire left-hander Erik Bedard from the Orioles and thereby allow Seattle to keep right fielder Adam Jones, among others, which is what it would take to acquire the hard-throwing lefty.

[Bip Roberts]

lots of money for what most people consider maybe a 4

[Hondo]

Let me say this. Thank you Mariners.

Please let us land Santana and Bedard...

Santana
Harang
Bedard
Arroyo
Cueto

Thats what I am hoping for Christmas... With LTC's for Santana and Bedard.

Best Rotation since 1990's Braves

Thanks

[AmarilloRed]

Let me say this. Thank you Mariners.

Please let us land Santana and Bedard...

Santana
Harang
Bedard
Arroyo
Cueto

Thats what I am hoping for Christmas... With LTC's for Santana and Bedard.

Best Rotation since 1990's Braves

Thanks

We might land Santana OR Bedard, but not both.

[Bip Roberts]

We might land Santana OR Bedard, but not both.

let alone landing them and keeping cueto some how

[Hondo]

I would trade 10 Johnny Cuetos' for Bedard AND Bedard...

Thanks