By Kirby Arnold
Herald Writer
SEATTLE – The Seattle Mariners’ medical department had its hands full with pitchers on Monday, including one free-agent starter who might sign with the team as soon as today.
Right-hander James Baldwin, whom the Mariners have courted this winter in their quest to complete the starting rotation, underwent a physical exam to assure the team he is healthy after a recent history of arm problems.
It’s believed a successful physical is all that stands between Baldwin and a one-year contract, with an option year, from the Mariners.
The other pitcher of medical importance, reliever Norm Charlton, had his left shoulder repaired in a surgery performed in Seattle by Dr. Larry Pedegana, the Mariners’ medical director.
Pedegana, who says he never terms a surgery successful until a patient returns to full strength, was satisfied by the procedure to repair a torn rotator cuff and a torn labrum on the 39-year-old Charlton.
“The surgery went as expected,” Pedegana said. “We still anticipate one year of recovery.”
The pitching news could be much more positive today.
The Mariners are hopeful for a good report on the 30-year-old Baldwin, a seven-year-veteran and one-time All-Star whose rising career took a downturn a year ago. He had shoulder surgery 15 months ago and struggled through a 10-11 season last year, including a 3-6 record after the Chicago White Sox traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 26.
Dodgers pitching coach Jim Colborn, formerly the Mariners’ longtime Pacific Rim scout, discovered a flaw in Baldwin’s motion and the right-hander finished the season with two stellar performances. He went seven innings in each outing and allowed only one run in the 14 innings, and scouts said Baldwin was throwing his fastball about 93 mph.
If he signs with the Mariners, Baldwin would ease the loss of right-hander Aaron Sele, who went 15-5 last year and logged 215 innings, second on the staff to Freddy Garcia’s 238 2/3.
Without another veteran starter, the Mariners would head to spring training with unproven youngsters in the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation. Currently, right-hander Joel Pineiro is the fourth starter, and the fifth spot will become a spring training competition between Ryan Franklin and John Halama.
Manager Lou Piniella, however, is known to favor Pineiro and Franklin in the bullpen and has long campaigned for the signing of an experienced starter.
“This would keep us from putting a rookie in a position of replacing a guy who gave us 215 innings and 15 wins,” pitching coach Bryan Price said.
As of late Monday, Price hadn’t heard results of the physical. General manager Pat Gillick, out of town most of the day and attending a function in Seattle Monday night, and Baldwin’s agent, Rex Garey, did not return calls from The Herald.
Baldwin went 14-7 with the White Sox in 2000 and was the winning pitcher in the All-Star game. He started 7-0 but late in the season battled a sore shoulder that required surgery not long after the Mariners eliminated the White Sox in the Division Series.
“There are always some pros and cons in a situation like this,” Price said. “The pro is that Baldwin can come here in place of Aaron Sele and give us an experienced pitcher who has pitched in postseason conditions. He’s been a good solid pitcher when he’s been healthy, and he’s self-motivated and a very good competitor.
“The only negative is that we’ve got some good young pitchers in the organization and it costs you a roster spot.”
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