M’S NOTES: Washburn wants to stay with Seattle

The crowd of reporters around Jarrod Washburn on Monday afternoon lured one keenly interested onlooker —Mariners DH Mike Sweeney.

“Are you still my teammate?” asked Sweeney, who wasn’t sure whether or not Washburn had been traded.

Washburn has gotten that a lot from teammates lately, and it will continue up to Friday’s 1 p.m. (PST) trade deadline unless the Mariners make a deal. After Toronto’s Roy Halladay and Cleveland’s Cliff Lee, Washburn has been the most often-mentioned pitcher in trade speculation. The Phillies, Brewers and Yankees are known to have shown interest.

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik revealed little Monday afternoon to reporters, saying that any move he makes must help the team now and in the future.

“Everybody is talking to everybody right now and things have heated up,” Zduriencik said. “But that doesn’t necessarily mean something is going to happen. But you have a responsibility to look at everything and weigh the big picture. At the end of the day, (we will) do what we’ve always tried to do — continue to help our club get better.”

Washburn, meanwhile, said he would prefer to remain a Mariner not only the rest of this season, but re-sign for at least another year.

“I love it in Seattle, my family likes it here in Seattle and I have expressed that it would be something I’d be open to,” he said. “I don’t think it would be a distraction. If they wanted to go that route, I would definitely be open to listening. I wouldn’t be disappointed to stay a Seattle Mariner.”

Among the possibilities, Washburn re-signing is a strong one. Zduriencik asked him a few weeks ago if he would he would consider a new contract.

Washburn, who was hoping to be traded during the Mariners’ miserable season last year (team president Chuck Armstrong blocked an August deal with the Twins), said he likes the direction the team is headed. He also believes the Mariners, despite being 71/2 games out of first place, can get back into the division race.

“There’s over two months of baseball left,” he said. “The Angels and Rangers are bound to cool off a little bit and go through a stretch like we had these last few days.

“I’ve definitely seen a step in the right direction. We’ve got a lot of good young guys here, we’ve got great chemistry in the clubhouse, the coaching staff is awesome. You can’t ask for anything more out of them with Wak leading them. It’s a great group of guys to be a part of. There’s a lot of talent in the room and we’ve played better than anybody expected us to play. I look for it to continue to improve.”

Zduriencik said a good series against the Blue Jays and a victory Thursday at Texas could be factors in what the Mariners do, although he also won’t sit on a deal that comes together early this week if it meets the team’s long-term goals.

The Mariners’ most pressing need is offense, although starting pitching remains the greatest void throughout the organization.

“You have to take a realistic and honest view and always assess,” Zduriencik said. “We go through it every week, where are we as a ballclub. That doesn’t change. Because of the trade deadline there’s great fan interest.

“Clubs are always making phone calls to see where you stand. I’ll say the same thing that I’ve always said, that our goal is to always to try to improve our organization. That’s what we’ll continue to do.”

Of note

Manager Don Wakamatsu had a new right side to his infield Monday night because of back problems suffered by first baseman Russell Branyan and second baseman Jose Lopez. Chris Shelton started at first base and Chris Woodward at second. Wakamatsu expected Branyan and Lopez to start tonight. … Among topics during the Mariners’ team meeting Monday was the need for pitchers to economize their pitches and avoid nibbling around the corners. Wakamatsu said that’s the main reason the pitchers struggled in the three-game series against the Indians, who outscored the Mariners 31-6. … Tonight’s game will be the Mariners’ sixth straight against a left-handed starter, making it the second time in club history to face six in a row. The Mariners faced seven straight lefties during the 1983 season.