Well if it's true- and it probably is, I'd like to say good luck Raul. I hope you get a chance to play deep into October.

As for Washburn, he just never fulfilled the potential and with his salary, maybe we can make some sound choices this winter.

Hopefully something can be worked out, and give us a little clearer path to the future....Please don't let the FO drop the ball again........Raul going will help the OF situation right now, and Wash going will help a young pitcher get a groove for the rest of the year.

Good luck to both.....a reason for us to watch the postseason at least!!

Watching the M's with the impending Ibanez waiver deal hanging over my head feels not dissimilar to watching someone with a terminal disease wither away and die. If Ibanez goes, I will be sad. He's one of the few bright spots this team's had this year. He'd be great to have around to teach younger players the ropes. But if Raul goes, I wish him well. He has really grown as a player over the years; he's rock-solid, and the M's need more, lots more, like him.

I sincerely hope that the Rays are the ones that got the claim. That puts this deal in a better position. The M's can then demand two prospects equal to the two high picks that the Rays would receive when Raul leaves at the end of the year.

*Note*- Ms Fan in CO Exile = couldn't find anything more original?? :-)

Reed should be benched immediately after this inning. Fair is fair Riggleman.

Good pitchers get out of jams. Like I said the other day.

anything coming back in return for them like how the reds got 3 players for adam dunn

Sad day saying goodbye to Raul. Love shouting out his name with emphasis when he comes up to bat or when he hits it out of the park. Let's hope we get something decent out of the deal. Don't quite trust FO.

Washburn had his moments, but drove us all crazy with inconsistency and falling apart an inning or two. I think he could flourish somewhere where he's challenged.

Anyway, Rauls leaving creates more of a vaccum in the clubhouse. Oh woe.

Geoff - thank you for the timely news.

Message for Howie and Chuckie:

We will not be swayed by your meaningless manoeuvres!!!!

Step Off. Do It Now!!

RagArm - Uh, Ibanez and Washburn haven't been traded or moved in any way. They are both Mariners.

Good luck Raul! The end of an era, I believe he is the last Mariner on the roster to play the first game at Safeco Field.

If we lose Ibanez and Washburn, we are going to lose 120 games. But, at least, we'll have the No. 1 overall pick to look forward to and we'll have been the only team to have a $100M payroll and lose 100 games, which ain't too shabby.

Geoff - Good luck to you where ever you end up.

"If we lose Ibanez and Washburn, we are going to lose 120 games."

So you think removing Washburn from the rotation will cause us to lose more games?

Interesting.

The good thing about Raul leaving, if he does, is that we will ot longer have to listen to the sabergeeks and their devotees whine about Raul's defense. I'm convinced the guy could hit .400 with 40 home runs (which is about the pace he's been on since the All-Star game) and they'd still be bitching about some phony defensive statistics.

At least it will shut them up and we won't have to listen to USS RAULSUCKS constant drivel about him.

I doubt Ibanez goes anywhere. The only way this would happen is if Tampa was awarded the rights to negotiate with Seattle. But I find it hard to believe that Boston would fall asleep at the switch and let Ibanez get past them. They really don’t need Ibanez and I would find it hard to believe that they would be willing to give Seattle players/prospects that are of more value to the FO than the two draft picks we would get if he left as a free agent.