I don’t know is on third for Mariners

Published 3:51 pm Sunday, December 13, 2009

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik arrived at the winter meetings in Indianapolis last week with millions to spend on free agents and an equal amount of enthusiasm to use at least some of it on a starting pitcher, first baseman, left fielder and third baseman.

Those were the Mariners’ greatest needs this offseason, until Zduriencik crossed third base off his list by finalizing the four-year, $36 million signing of Chone Figgins. Then Zduriencik uncrossed it by not immediately naming Figgins his third baseman in 2010.

“… we have an interest in another infielder who used to be here,” Zduriencik said.

While reporters in Indianapolis choked on their assumptions, the GM created a whole new set of rumors.

The easy one is that the Mariners are negotiating with agent Scott Boras to bring Adrian Beltre back. Actually, that’s not a rumor. They are talking.

However, Beltre seems more longshot than sure thing for the Mariners even though the doors to the free-agent market haven’t exactly swung open to him like the gates of Oz to Dorothy. But don’t get too cocky, Mariners fans, about retaining him. The Red Sox were and still are in the Beltre hunt, and it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if the Angels get involved, even if it’s nothing more than a smokescreen by Boras to milk more money from the Red Sox.

So, if Zduriencik isn’t handing third base to Figgins, and if it’s not going to be Beltre, where are the Mariners turning? Who is this “infielder who used to be here” that Zduriencik speaks of? Let’s look at these far-fetched possibilities:

Russell Branyan

Midway through the past season, when Branyan’s bat was barking more than his back, a lot of folks started looking ahead to 2010 and could picture Branyan playing third (assuming Beltre would fly to free agency). Right now, Branyan’s herniated disc is a huge concern to the Mariners, so much that they don’t seem willing to offer more than one year and a lot of ice. Third base? Uh, no. Frankly, you’ve got to wonder now how much first base Branyan can play, and whether any of it will be with the Mariners in 2010.

Rich Aurilia

For those who watched Aurilia wobble through his previous stint with the Mariners, insert your own comment here. Just keep it clean.

Jeff Cirillo

I saw him a couple of times last summer scouting for the Brewers. Looks like he could still get down on a ground ball. Of all the knocks against Cirillo during his checkered stint with the M’s, his defense was fine.

Melvin Mora

OK, he really didn’t play for the Mariners, but technically Zduriencik didn’t actually say that. He spoke of “another infielder who used to be here,” and Mora played a nice third base many times at Safeco Field — for the Orioles.

Edgar Martinez

In my dreams (No, really. I dreamed the other night that Edgar was playing third). Next time I see Edgar wearing a Mariners cap, it needs to be in the Hall of Fame.

Matt Tuiasosopo

Tui got a taste at second base in September and played well. He’s playing winter ball now and very well could wind up at third base if all of the Mariners’ other options don’t pan out. Not sure the Mariners see Tui as the final answer at third as they look for players who can take them to the World Series, but he could help buy time until they find or develop one (see next item).

Josh Wilson

He arrived last year so fresh-faced he looked too young to be a batboy, and he left as the Mariners’ rangiest second baseman since Jose Lopez took his first choppy steps at Safeco Field. Wilson declined his outright to the minor leagues last month, choosing to become a free agent in an effort to strike a better deal. What he learned was that the better deal might be with the Mariners, so he signed a minor-league contract with them last week. Wilson still looks like a pre-teen, but he started three games at third base last season and handled himself like a veteran — defensively, at least.

Scott Spiezio

Hah, made you look.

Mike Brumley

Close, but not close enough. Brumley, who played for the Mariners in 1990, will be in the third-base coach’s box in 2010, not third base. I met him last month in Arizona, and it’s clear he’s thrilled and honored to be with the Mariners.

Miguel Cairo

Do we really want to go through that again? I don’t think so.

Al Martin

I know, he was an outfielder. But if he supposedly can be a football star at USC, surely in his own mind he can play a stellar third base.

Read Kirby Arnold’s blog on the Mariners at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/marinersblog