Expect Mariners to Continue Trying to Deal Players

The fireworks have concluded following the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline, but expect the Mariners to continue to try to deal veteran talent for prospects as part of new General Manager Lee Pelekoudas' rebuilding effort.

The team was able to deal reliever Arthur Rhodes, but trading becomes more difficult now because players can be claimed by other teams before they can be dealt. Still, the Mariners remain motivated because of an abundance of expendable personnel, including but not limited to Ichiro Suzuki, Adrian Beltre, Jerrod Washburn, Raul Ibanez, J.J. Putz, Jose Vidro and Jeremy Reed.

Observers have advance the theory that Pelekoudas has been unsuccessful so far because he asks too steep a price.

Pitchers Keeping Ichiro Suzuki Close to the Bag

Speedy Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki has stolen only one base in more than two weeks, as opposing pitchers are holding him close to the bag, according to manager Jim Riggleman.

"When you steal enough, at some point the other manager won't let you," Riggleman recently explained to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. "They change how they pitch. Right now they're not letting Ichiro run. They're...about 1.2 seconds to the plate. When other guys are on base, they pitch. When he's on base, they make sure they slow down the run."

Riggleman largely discounted what apparently is a minor hamstring issue.

Suzuki has 33 steals for the season.