Edwin Jackson's contract calls for only 2

With the Yankees actually setting a small budget, and negotiations under way with longtime great AndyPettitte, who could repeat his $11 million in 2009 earnings in a new incentive laden deal, they will likely not beupping the ante on Lackey in any bidding war.Sports Illustrated was also kind enough to give Seattle sports some attention, they havereceived front page press on the MLB page in regards to theiroff-season activity.Bottom line is if any bidding war is to occur between the Angels and Mariners for John Lackey, star Left Fielder Jason Bay, Rich Harden, etc The Mariners are going to be able to outbid them at will. The Angelsoff-season budget is set at around $12 million, whilst the Mariners have roughly $41 million (including Chone Figgins pending signing), coming off the books from last season. unless the Angels budget is increased, it is not going to be enough to pry Jason Bay from backing the Green Monster, or to keep their ace in Los Angeles.The news that the Mariners are interested in Oliver actually had me quite intrigued. It is just the patent type of under the radar move Jack Zduriencik likes to sneak by everyone.Since joining the Angels in 2007, Oliver hasquietly been having some impressive campaigns.

Over his last three seasons as areliever he has posted an average stat line of:59 games, 69.6 innings, 5 Wins, 1 Loss, 3.12 ERA, 62 Hits allowed, 24 Earned Runs, 5 Home Runs allowed, 20 Walks allowed, 55 Strikeouts, and 13 Holds.For a 39 year oldreliever,that's better then solid. Adding Darren Oliver to the fold gives them one of the most underrated set up men in the league to top Closer David Aardsma for a few seasons.People keep saying the price was too steep for Jackson, I strongly disagree. Morrow and Kelley are mediocre and you can talk about potential, but with so many young upside arms in the Mariners system (Doug Fister, Ian Snell, Ryan Rowland Smith, Luke French, Garrett Olson, Jason Vargas, etc), a trade would not have even dented the Major League roster. Adding Oliver to the mix could potentially see the Mariners enter the Jackson derby once again.With so much money, it is not out of the realm ofpossibility the Mariners could sign Darren Oliver and subsequently swing a deal for Edwin Jackson, while also signing John Lackey and Jason Bay on the open market.Coupled with Figgins $9 million dollar salary, this is how the money would roughly figure out in the above scenario.Darren Oliver, incentive laden one year contract worth $3 million with a club option.Edwin Jackson's contract calls for only $2.2 million next season.John Lackey will likely command around $15 million on the Free Agent market.Jason Bay will likely command slightly more then Lackeys' $15million, seemingly because he turned down a four year, $60 million dollar offer from the Red Sox to hit the open market.

Lets say it turns out to be $17 million if he was to sign with Seattle.The total of those five salaries including the all but signed Figgins, turns out to be $49.2 million, a tad below the roughly $50 million that is coming off of the books for Seattle. Couple in what I expect to be a re-signing of the only true power producer in 2009, Russell the Muscle, at around one year, and $4 million, the payroll only slightly increases past what was already a significantly reduced (by around $25 million), 2009 figure. in addition to the annual $17 million dollarsalary Hernandez wouldreceive in the proportions of the above contract, and the Mariners would essentially be breaking even from their reduced 2009 payroll while adding an additional $13 million for Hernandez (current salary stands at $3.8 million), and around $6 million extra from the figures of contracts dolled out to Branyan and Johnson that spill over from the $50 million coming off the books. The overall salary with all of this activity (although Ibelieve they have a chance to sign all of these players if they so choose, I doubt they do it all), would put the 2010 payroll at a similar figure to the 2008 payroll of slightly above $100 million.The proposed moves and salaries are all names being linked multiple times to the Mariners and the average figures being discussed.Just fathom the roster if it all panned out, and with all of their money, trade chips, and bargaining power in a weak Free Agent crop, it is very feasible something like this could be done.Starting RotationFelix HernandezJohn LackeyEdwin Jackson/Rich HardenIan SnellLuke French/Brandon Morrow/Ryan Rowland Smith Relievers/ Pitching DepthDavid AardsmaSean White,Darren Oliver,Mark Lowe,Luke French/Brandon Morrow/Ryan Rowland SmithDoug FisterGarrett OlsonJason VargasRyan Feierabend Positional LineupCatcher- Adam Moore/Rob JohnsonFirst Base- Russell BranyanSecond Base- Jose LopezThird Base- Chone FigginsShortstop- Jack WilsonLeft Field- Jason BayCenter Field- Franklin GutierrezRight Field- IchiroDesignated Hitter- Nick Johnson Main Bench/Role PlayersLF Michael SaundersOF Endy ChavezOF/INF Dustin Ackley (2008 overall No. 2 pick)INF Bill Hall1B/DH Mike Carp That is an young and incredibly intimidating, formidable, well balanced roster with a resoundingly sound and dynamic core for years to come. Major Leagues most dynamic duo at the top of lineup in Ichiro and Chone Figgins would then be followed by the power of the left-handed Branyan, and right-handed Bay. The offenses only weak link would be SS Jack Wilson, whose dynamic Gold Glove more then makes up for his mediocre offense, and the Catcher position.

All of a sudden a lineup full of question marks entering last season now only has two knowndeficiencies, and even then, you can do worse then Jack Wilson hittingeighth or ninth.The pitching rotation features baseballs most coveted pitcher, Felix Hernandez (Lincecum would be if he was available and could be ours except Bavasi plucked Morrow), and would contain arguably three No 1 pitchers. There are All Stars, true impact players on the market, and the Mariners can gun for any one of them with their budget that rival GM's can only sit and envy. In a poor economy, the Mariners can influence the market at will.Keep in mind the Mariners also have plenty of valuable trade chips besides Morrow and Kelley in 2B Jose Lopez (depending on the Orlando Hudson rumors, and Branyan), SS Carlos Truinfel, 3B Matt Tuiasosopo, INF Bill Hall, OF Endy Chavez, OF Ryan Langerhans (had a pair of walk off's in 2009) P Mark Lowe, P Garrett Olson, P Carlos Silva (can only cross my fingers and hope and pray). Truinfel and Tuiasosopo could easily start talks that could net them a great, proven Major League player to plug the hole in Left Field, shore up the Catching, strengthen the rotation, or add the much neededeffective DH. Shortstop and Third Base appear blocked by Jack Wilson, and Chone Figgins for the time being, so swapping any of the listed INF's would not have a ghastly effect the major league roster.