Mariners finalize trade

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, January 6, 2004

SEATTLE – Jeff Cirillo officially became an ex-Seattle Mariner on Tuesday when they traded him to the San Diego Padres, and now the M’s will deal with the residue of his troubling two years with them.

The Mariners acquired three players who are trying to get their careers back in order – pitcher Kevin Jarvis, utility player Dave Hansen and catcher Wiki Gonzalez – and a fourth – minor league outfielder Vince Faison – who is trying to live up to his status as a No. 1 draft pick five years ago.

Besides Cirillo, the Mariners sent promising minor league pitcher Brian Sweeney to the Padres, along with a portion of the $15 million Cirillo will make the final two years of his contract.

“We ended up taking on some players that are maybe not in the same situation Jeff was in, but they had three players who needed to get their careers back on track,” Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi said.

For two of them, Jarvis and Hansen, there’s prime opportunity with the 2004 Mariners.

Jarvis, a 34-year-old who has pitched for seven other teams, has a 5.83 career earned run average and went 4-8 in 16 starts last year with the Padres. With the Mariners’ starting rotation full, Jarvis will compete for a job in long relief but brings considerable starting experience. He will make $4.25 million in 2004.

“Last year this club did something I’m absolutely amazed at, (going) wire-to-wire with five starters,” Bavasi said. “You can’t plan on that. It’s important to have a guy like (Jarvis).”

Hansen, 35, batted just .244 last year with the Padres but, in 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, established himself as one of the best pinch hitters in baseball. His 129 pinch hits rank fifth on baseball’s all-time list.

“He understands that role,” Bavasi said. “Hopefully he can get back on track and get back to what he did with the Dodgers.”

Despite his struggles in San Diego, Hansen has a big fan in one Padres pitcher.

“He’s going to be superb,” said Adam Eaton, who lives in Snohomish. “He’s one of those guys you don’t want to face when the game’s on the line. He’s a great guy to have in your hip pocket.”

Hansen made $750,000 last year.

Gonzalez will get $1.2 million, but he’s got to show the Mariners a commitment to make himself the catcher the Padres hoped he would become. He is playing winter ball in Venezuela and the Mariners are watching closely.

“He’ll have to show our people it’s really worthwhile to bring him into camp,” Bavasi said. “He’s clearly got an opportunity here, but he doesn’t have a gift.”

Faison, who will be 23 on Jan. 22, never batted better than .253 in four years in the Padres’ system.

“He’s a tools guy (good arm, bat and speed) and we want to give him an opportunity to bloom a little bit,” Bavasi said. “It’s really not any more complex than that.”

Aurilia update: Bavasi wouldn’t discuss the progress of the Mariners’ talks with free agent shortstop Rich Aurilia, whose agent said early this week that the two sides are very close to striking a deal.

“When we have something to throw out there and announce, we’ll do it,” Bavasi said.

Caravan coming: The Mariners’ annual caravan of players and personalities will stop Monday at Emerson Elementary School in Snohomish. Catcher Dan Wilson, outfielder Chris Snelling and the Mariner Moose will conduct a mid-day Dream Team assembly at the school. The assembly is not open to the public.

Wilson, Snelling and the Moose will appear at an autograph session at the Skagit Valley College Pavilion, 2405 East College Way in Mount Vernon, from 4-5:30 p.m. Thursday. That event is open to the public and there is no admission charge.