SEATTLE – Eddie Guardado, who barely was able to showcase himself as the Seattle Mariners’ closer this year because of knee and shoulder injuries, may not get another chance in 2005.
The Mariners decided Monday not to exercise their option on his contract for next year, a move that could lead to the departure of their left-handed pitcher. Had the Mariners picked up the option, he’d have been under contract with a $6 million salary.
Now the decision on whether to return is Guardado’s. He has seven days to implement his own option, at $4 million, or walk away from the Mariners and become a free agent.
Guardado, saying he wasn’t surprised at the Mariners’ decision because of his injuries, would like to return.
“I was expecting it,” he said. “I was hurt, so what are they going to do? No one wants to pick up a $6 million option on a guy who is hurt.”
The question now is whether any other team believes Guardado will be healthy enough to warrant more than $4 million. The Anaheim Angels are known to be looking for late-inning left-handed relief help this offseason.
The strength of Guardado’s shoulder is the biggest question. He missed the last two months of the season because of a torn rotator cuff, which he decided to rehab rather than undergo surgery that would have kept him from pitching for at least a year. He also had surgery on his left knee, which bothered him all season.
“I hope he returns to us,” Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi said. “We’re confident his shoulder and knee will be fine.”
Guardado threw several times without pain last month in the bullpen at the Mariners’ training complex in Peoria, Ariz., and the club gave him clearance to pursue his regular offseason workout regimen.
While the Mariners are saying publicly they are confident Guardado will be healthy in 2005, there is concern within the organization that his shoulder won’t be ready for the stress of closing situations when the season begins.
Guardado, 34, had 18 saves in 41 appearances this year, going 2-2 with a 2.78 earned run average.
The Mariners, who can begin making offers to other teams’ free agents on Nov. 12, aren’t saying if they will pursue another closer.
“We just need to strengthen the bullpen as a whole and that includes guys who can pitch late in the game, whether that’s a closer or not,” assistant general manager Lee Pelekoudas said. “We’re not counting Eddie out as a closer next year if he decides to come back.”
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