Major League Baseball

Mariners expecting to add another hitter soon

Published Jan. 29, 2010 5:19 a.m. ET

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Will Jack Zduriencik ever rest?

Even though the general manager has already remade his Mariners this winter by boldly acquiring former Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee, giving $78 million to co-ace Felix Hernandez, signing All-Star third baseman Chone Figgins, nabbing new first baseman Casey Kotchman and bringing back iconic Ken Griffey Jr., Zduriencik's not done yet.

``We're still looking for a right-handed bat,'' Zduriencik said Thursday, three weeks before pitchers and catchers report to spring training.

Seattle's GM is seeking a veteran hitter who can play left field, and perhaps be a part-time designated hitter and first baseman.

``It may be a few days, a few weeks, however long it takes,'' Zduriencik said of what should be his final acquisition of a busy winter. ``We're playing with a few things right now that we're reasonably comfortable might happen.''

Seattle has Griffey penciled in at DH. Manager Don Wakamatsu said Thursday at the team's annual pre-spring training luncheon that the Mariners will again slowly work baseball's active home run leader into everyday shape, adding that ``when he can play, he's going to be in there.''

However, Griffey is 40 and coming off his second knee surgery in 12 months. Yet, Mariners trainer Rick Griffin said the man who has 630 home runs is ``better now than he was at any time last year.''

Griffey hit .214 last season in his return to Seattle, with 19 homers and 57 RBIs in 117 games. He was a DH for all but the first weeks of the season.

Griffin spent a few days with Griffey at his home in Florida this winter. The trainer said the slugger and team crackup has lost about seven pounds - and is bragging about his renewed physique.

``He told our general manager that he's going to be ripped,'' Griffin said, smiling. ``We'll see.''

The Mariners recently acquired Milton Bradley from the Cubs in hopes the sometimes volatile 31-year-old can play left field and perhaps DH. But Bradley has a history of blowing up spectacularly while on seven teams the previous 10 seasons.

Seattle also acquired Kotchman to play first base, but the defensive whiz lacks power.

Zduriencik admits that is a glaring void on a team that is becoming a trendy pick to win the AL West in 2010 and return to the postseason for the first time since 2001.

First baseman Russell Branyan hit a career-high 31 home runs in 116 games last year with Seattle before a herniated disk ended his season. The Mariners recently decided he was not healthy enough to give the free agent the multiyear deal he is seeking.

Other veteran free agents still available who have home-run history include Jermaine Dye, Carlos Delgado and Hank Blalock.

``I think we'll be a little bit challenged - as we speak - power-wise,'' Zduriencik said. ``But when you realize what it costs to get one of those really big-time bats (it's) pretty expensive. We used our resources in other ways.''

Such as giving former All-Star shortstop Jack Wilson, another outstanding defensive player, $10 million in a new, two-year contract and locking up potential Gold Glove center fielder Franklin Gutierrez for four years and $20.25 million.

The Mariners are also unsettled at catcher and in the rotation behind Hernandez and Lee.

Catcher Rob Johnson returns after emerging last season as a pitcher's best friend, forcing veteran Kenji Johjima out of the league and back to Japan. But Johnson had surgeries to both hips and his wrist this winter. The 27-year-old who has yet to start more than 80 major league games in a season will not fully participate until at least late in spring training, but said Thursday ``I'll be ready'' for the season.

The only catcher in camp with more than two years of major league experience will be non-roster invitee Josh Bard, a six-year veteran.

Pitching coach Rick Adair mentioned four returning candidates for three rotation spots. Ryan Rowland-Smith appears to have one in hand. That leaves Ian Snell, Doug Fister and Jason Vargas - all of whom emerged last season - battling for the other two.

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