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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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August 13, 2008 6:37 PM

Ibanez, Washburn claimed

Posted by Geoff Baker

So, I'm going to have to stop listening to scouts at the breakfast table because Raul Ibanez was definitely claimed on waivers today, as was Jarrod Washburn. Ibanez told me he was informed, by someone in-the-know, upon arriving at the park today that a claim on him had been put in. Washburn also received similar information.

The team now has until tomorrow to work out a deal. Actually, it has 48 1/2 "business day hours'' from when the claim was made. So, if it was made today, it would be Friday. If yesterday, which is what folks are saying, it would be tomorrow. Or else, it can pull the players back. Or, allow them to be claimed for salary owed. That won't happen with Ibanez, who is owed less than $2 million and still has value. It might with Washburn, owed roughly $13 million from now through 2009.

In Ibanez's case, we're trying to confirm it, but the Tampa Bay Rays would certainly be a claimant, as would the Boston Red Sox (attempting to block the Rays from acquiring him) and the Toronto Blue Jays (who could secure draft picks if Ibanez leaves as a free-agent after the season). But others could be in on him as well, including the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs. We'll see. He has no idea.

With Washburn, it could be limited. I keep hearing the St. Louis Cardinals might be the team but I can't say for certain. I know that's not too precise. But nothing is.

Take the Rays to the bank with Ibanez. They just lost left fielder Carl Crawford for the year. Their pennant hopes are hanging by a thread. Trouble is, the Red Sox and others can block such a deal.