M's continue to attempt winter deals

They struck an agreement with free agent Scott Spiezio, who likely will be their third baseman next season if he passes a physical exam. The deal, covering three years and worth $9 million, could be finalized as early as today.

The Mariners also acquired outfielder Quinton McCracken from Arizona in exchange for Greg Colbrunn, who played for the Diamondbacks before joining Seattle a year ago.

Today could see another deal or two beyond that. General manager Bill Bavasi is hopeful he can pull off a deal to grant third baseman Jeff Cirillo his wish to be traded.

The club thought a deal was in place to send Cirillo to the Mets in exchange for New York's unwanted outfielder, Roger Cedeno.

It would have been a good fit, but some sources last night suggested money issues are keeping the sides from completing the deal. At issue is how much the Mariners would pay the Mets to complete it.

The Mariners expected to ship some money to the Mets to cushion the blow of the more than $14 million Cirillo is owed ($5.725 in 2004) over the next two years, plus a $1.25 million buyout for 2006. And Cedeno, who made $4.875 last year, is a player the Mets want to dump so they can bring in another free agent outfielder, probably Jose Guillen.

The deal could be revived, or Bavasi may have another outlet for Cirillo.

As if that isn't enough, there's a suggestion Seattle may be involved in another deal involving starting right-hander Freddy Garcia, the subject of much trade talk here. That deal may happen today.

The Mariners outlasted eight teams that expressed strong interest in Spiezio. Two other teams showed some interest.

Spiezio was mostly a first baseman in his four years with the Angels, but before that he was a second baseman for Oakland. He came to the major leagues in 1996 as a third baseman. He returned there in a limited capacity last season for Anaheim, playing a career-high 52 games at third (114 at first).

A switch hitter with power from both sides of the plate, Spiezio hit .265 last year with 16 homers and 83 RBIs for Anaheim. Although the Angels seemed down about Spiezio's offense, his homer total was one shy of his career high, his RBI total was the best of his career and his .265 average is better than his career average of .261.

Spiezio came to the big leagues in 1996 with Oakland as a third baseman. But he was versatile enough to move to second in spring training of 1997 upon request of the A's. He was mostly a second baseman in Oakland.

He has played second base rarely since leaving the A's.

Spiezio spent the past four seasons in Anaheim, winning a World Series ring with the Angels in 2002.

It was Spiezio's seventh-inning three-run homer in Game 6 of the 2002 World Series that started a rally against San Francisco. The Giants led 5-0, but Spiezio's homer off Felix Rodriguez turned the tide.

Meanwhile, McCracken said he was "ecstatic about getting up to the Northwest."

"It's a good deal for both clubs," the veteran outfielder said. "I have a history with the manager there (Bob Melvin), and I have some friends there, particularly Randy Winn. I've always liked the ballpark, the fans and the city, so it should be a good fit.

"What any player wants is a chance to play and win. I'm looking forward to that."

Colbrunn was acquired as a right-handed pinch hitter and occasional DH and first baseman, but struggled offensively early. Once he warmed up, he was slapped down by injuries that limited him to 58 at-bats.

"I've got mixed emotions about the trade," Colbrunn said. "It will be nice to go back to a place that's familiar and that I know. But my year in Seattle was pretty frustrating. I got hurt and never got a chance to show what I can do."

For Melvin, having a fast runner, a good defender and a decent hitter who can play all three outfield positions looms large.

"I saw what Q could do when I was (coaching) in Arizona," Melvin said. "He's a switch hitter who plays each of the outfield positions equally well. That's a big plus for us."

The Mariners and the Diamondbacks are splitting the difference in salaries between the two. Colbrunn is due to make $2.5 million in 2004 and McCracken $1.75 million. Seattle is sending $375,000 to the Diamondbacks to balance the deal. McCracken has two contract incentives, one of $75,000 for playing in 75 games and another of $100,000 for playing in 125 games.

NOTES: Bavasi feels good about the way the winter meetings have gone. "We'll end up getting some valuable things done," he said. "And the things we don't get done, at least we'll know we exhausted the possibilities." ... The Mariners ongoing negotiations with Ichiro Suzuki were on hold over the weekend, but Bavasi said they will resume today. ... The Mariners traded right-hander Allan Simpson to Colorado in exchange for right-hander Chris Buglovsky. Vice president of scouting and player development Benny Looper said Buglovsky, while slow to the plate with his pitches, has a good arm the Mariners believe could blossom. Simpson, the club's eighth-round pick in the 1997 draft, spent 2003 at Class AAA Tacoma, going 2-5 with a 4.16 ERA in relief. He had to be traded to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. ... The Mariners added three other players for its Tacoma roster during the minor league portion of the Rule V draft: right-handed pitcher Darwin Soto from San Diego in the first round, catcher Omar Falcon from San Diego (second round) and left-handed pitcher Chris Key from Florida (third round). Soto, 20, was 7-1 with nine saves and a 2.64 ERA for Class A Fort Wayne in the Midwest League. Falcon, 21, hit .182 in a dozen games for Fort Wayne, then .191 in 32 games with Eugene in the Northwest League. Key, 26, was 4-2 with two saves and a 1.70 ERA in 45 games with Jupiter in the Florida State League.

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