Vizquel deal falls through
Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, December 16, 2003
SEATTLE – The Seattle Mariners have swung and missed again in their attempt to acquire a shortstop for the 2004 season.
Omar Vizquel, the former Mariner who appeared headed back to Seattle in a trade for Carlos Guillen, said Tuesday night that he didn’t pass the Mariners’ physical exam.
“They called me about an hour ago and told me I didn’t pass the test on my knee,” Vizquel told the MLB.com web site. “It was kind of a shock. I was really looking forward to coming back and playing for the Mariners.”
Vizquel, who lives in Issaquah in the offseason, tore cartilage in his right knee last June and underwent two surgeries.
Mariners assistant general manager Lee Pelekoudas confirmed that Vizquel took a physical but would not comment on the results.
“There’s a lot of other things that have gone into this,” Pelekoudas said. “It’s a complicated matter.”
Asked if the book is closed on Vizquel playing for the Mariners in 2004, Pelekoudas said, “Probably.”
Vizquel played his first five major league seasons with the Mariners before being traded to the Indians in 1993.
He performed agility drills Tuesday at Safeco Field, then was examined by Dr. Larry Pedegana, the Mariners’ medical director, and Dr. Mitch Storey, the team physician.
“I don’t know who made the final decision, but I guess they didn’t like what they saw,” Vizquel told MLB.com. “I did a bunch of tests and they moved my knee up and down.”
Vizquel, quoted in Tuesday’s editions of the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal, said the knee was about 80 percent recovered.
“I have been working out every day and my knee is feeling good, it’s getting there,” he told MLB.com. I was really surprised that I didn’t pass. I look strong, you know.”
The Mariners have been looking to upgrade the left side of their infield this offseason, but so far have whiffed twice.
Last weekend, they were out-bid in their effort to obtain free agent Miguel Tejada, who signed a six-year, $72-million contract with the Baltimore Orioles.
They turned their attention to Vizquel, a nine-time Gold Glove winner and three-time All-Star, and appeared to have a deal that would send Guillen to Cleveland, pending results of Vizquel’s physical.
The Mariners also are awaiting results of another physical exam, on free agent third baseman Scott Spiezio, who reached agreement on a three-year, $9 million deal. Spiezio also was at Safeco Field on Tuesday.
Spiezio, a switch hitter, would replace Jeff Cirillo, the embattled third baseman who has asked to be traded.
Pelekoudas said the Spiezio deal could be finalized today.
