Lackey I think it had to do more with facing the Red Sox in Fenway then it was the park. I wouldn't mind signing for a 3 year with an option for a 4th but wouldn't go beyond that.
Dead on.. The whole talk about Felix Hernandez is in all ways a pipe dream. The Red Sox called the Mariners at the trade deadline and told the Mariners they could have any 5 prospects including Bard and Kelly and were still turned down. Hernandez is a once in the blue moon talent who will be a top of the rotation starters for years and years to come. The Mariners are not trading him period.
Bedard has a torn lebrum and with hs injury histroy I would not touch him. Same thing with Escobar who hasn't stayed healthy in recent years. A name that sticks out too me for a reclamtion project is Justin Duchscherer from the A's. He has a minor elbow problem and slight emtional problems but I think he could be a decent 4th option. He went 10-8 with a 2.52 ERA in 2008 and I think he could be one of these guys that you could plug in and get some major production from.