Mariners: Guardado headed to free agency
The Mariners are expected to decline their 2006 option on closer Eddie Guardado, a source told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The move (or lack thereof) would allow Guardado to become a free agent. The team wants the veteran to return, but they'd rather he exercise a $4.25 million option rather than the franchise invoking their $6.25 million option.
Eddie is coming off an outstanding season (36 saves, 2.72 ERA), and it's not difficult to think that some club would offer the 35-year-old lefty more than $4.25 million to pitch for them in 2006. In other words, we expect Guardado to test the closer-heavy market this winter, and if so, we'll have to wait and see who the M's might turn to as their closer next year.