Barons Blog

One of the hottest topics of conversation about the Mariners these days is whether the organization should sign 39-year-old free-agent outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. The four members of the Mariners' Hall of Fame certainly think it's a good idea.

A brief throwing session was all Tyler Walker needed to convince the Mariners he was worthy of the one-year Major League contract he was awarded Tuesday.

"New" is the key word in Seattle. A new general manager, manager, coaching staff and nine new players on the 40-man roster should make this a season of change.

The Rays and the Mariners are among five teams that have shown interest in signing Ken Griffey Jr., according to a report by SI.com.

It's too early to predict that the Mariners will resemble a National League kind of team in 2009, but starting pitching and defense could be the primary areas of strength.

Every day from now to Spring Training, MLB.com/Live will air a classic game on Baseball's Best. Edgar Martinez's heroics in Game 5 of the 1955 ALDS can be seen on Sunday at 8 a.m. PT.

There will be a place on Australia's World Baseball Classic team for Mariners left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith if he can work it into a schedule that allows him to compete for Seattle's 25-man Opening Day roster during Spring Training.

The Mariners began the season expecting to compete for a playoff spot, but the team never clicked and was quickly on the way to a 100-loss season.

The Major League's first Asian-American manager has fond memories of the Christmas holidays when he was growing up in Hood River, Ore., located east of Portland along the Columbia River Gorge. He and his old brother frolicked in the snow that was normal for this time of year, but always looked ahead to the next baseball season.