By KIRBY ARNOLD
Herald Writer
As home-run hitters, Bret Boone and Tom Lampkin may not be the final solution to the Seattle Mariners’ power shortage now that Alex Rodriguez is gone.
But they offer enough pop that the Mariners appear ready to sign them.
The Mariners are close to signing the two free agents, possibly as soon as today.
Mariners assistant general manager Lee Pelekoudas, without naming the players involved, said Monday that the team is close to making some deals this week.
“Sometimes you think you’re close to getting things done and then you hit a snag,” Pelekoudas said. “But hopefully in the next couple of days we can get one or two things done and get into the holidays with a few things in place.”
Boone, a former Mariner who played second base with the San Diego Padres last season, hit .256 the past three years and averaged 21 home runs and 78 runs batted in.
He missed the last five weeks of the 2000 season with a knee injury. Padres general manager Kevin Towers told the San Diego Union-Tribune that he tried to trade Boone to the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Devil Rays last month, but couldn’t work out a deal.
The Padres made him a free agent, electing to buy out his contract for $250,000 rather than pay him $4 million for the 2001 season. It’s unclear what Boone’s contract with Seattle would be.
Lampkin, a catcher who spent much of last season on the disabled list after “Tommy John” ligament surgery to his throwing elbow, averaged eight homers and 29 RBI while hitting .278 the past two years with the Mariners. Until his injury, he was a valuable left-handed hitter who gave manager Lou Piniella a late-inning option both offensively and defensively.
Lampkin’s rehabilitation is on schedule and he expects to be close to full strength when spring training begins in mid-February. He worked out at Safeco Field last week and was examined afterward by Dr. Larry Pedegana, the Mariners’ medical director.
Lampkin would join Dan Wilson and Chris Widger as the Mariners’ catchers.
Boone, who played his first two major league seasons with the Mariners in 1992 and ‘93, has a reputation as a free swinger capable of a 20-home run season but also a low batting average because of his impatience at the plate.
Boone’s best season, average-wise, was 1994, after the Mariners traded him to the Reds, when he hit .320. Since then he hasn’t hit better than .267.
He spent five seasons in Cincinnati before being traded to the Braves before the 1999 season, then was sent to San Diego last season.
The addition of Boone would crowd the second base position somewhat, with Mark McLemore scheduled to return for a second season with the Mariners.
Even with the return of Lampkin and the addition of Boone, the Mariners will continue to pursue their greatest need: a power-hitting third baseman.
“We need some bats in here if we’re going to be able to compete,” Piniella said from his offseason home in Florida.
San Diego third baseman Phil Nevin remains an attractive trade target of the Mariners because of his power. The Mariners reportedly offered pitcher Brett Tomko and infielder Carlos Guillen last month, but the Padres said no.
After Rodriguez signed with the Rangers last week, Piniella said the Mariners are prepared to use Guillen as their shortstop, even though they’re wary that he can play every day because of a history of injuries.
That takes Guillen off the trade list and the Mariners are reluctant to part with their corps of promising young pitchers.
“Everybody wants our young pitching, but we won’t do that,” Piniella said.
It could take a three-team deal to pry Nevin from the Padres.
The Mariners made one move on Monday, claiming third baseman Jason Grabowski off waivers from the Texas Rangers.
Grabowski hit .274 with 19 home runs and 90 RBI for Class AA Tulsa last season. He began his pro career as a catcher before moving to third base in 1999.
To make room for Grabowski on the 40-man roster, the Mariners released right-handed pitcher Frankie Rodriguez, who they used in long relief the past two seasons.
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