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Geoff Baker covers the Mariners for The Seattle Times. He provides daily coverage of the team throughout spring training, and during the season.

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July 31, 2008 10:54 AM

Washburn still in-play

Posted by Geoff Baker

I know a lot of you have wondered about those rumors concerning the Yankees trying to go after Paul Byrd from the Cleveland Indians, as an alternative to Jarrod Washburn. Well, this item from the New York Post, released within the hour, shoots down that theory.

From what I'm told, the M's have not budged from their position. They want a higher level prospect from the Yankees. Like I've said, they can afford to wait this one out. We'll know more as the deadline draws closer. If you ask me, though, it's going to be difficult for the Yankees to cave on this. They've gone pretty far in shooting their mouths off in leaks and official statements that they are not prepared to go further. If they give Lee Pelekoudas what he wants now, it's going to look like a defeat. In fact, if they cave and take Washburn and he implodes, they have set themselves up for some major egg on their faces.

My hunch? This doesn't happen before the deadline. Unless both sides meet in the middle and agree on a mid-level prospect like we saw acquired for Arthur Rhodes this morning.

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