Mariners deal-less but hopeful Sexson still talking with Orioles; deal not finalized By Jim Street / MLB.com Orioles still hoping to acquire Sexson ‧ Mariners look for power ANAHEIM -- A lineup makeover designed to produce more runs and wins next season looked more hopeful than fulfilled Monday evening, when the Mariners ended the Winter Meetings without a visible home run trot. Amid reports they had reached an agreement, in principle, on a multiyear contract with Northwest native Richie Sexson, and were negotiating hot and heavy during the final day of the meetings with free agents Carlos Delgado and Adrian Beltre, the meetings ended without an announcement from the Mariners that any sluggers are Seattle-bound. "We followed up on some negotiations and tried to continue on others," general manager Bill Bavasi said. "We'll have at least one more meeting (Monday night)." The GM would not discuss any of those discussions, including any talks involving Sexson, who supposedly needed only to pass a physical in order to finalize a four-year contract. Several agents and MLB officials said they had heard the deal was worth $48 million. Bavasi said he had no reaction to published reports that cited "club officials" saying a deal with Sexson was virtually signed, sealed and delivered. Not so fast. A potential fly-in-the-soup scenario developed early Monday afternoon when Sexson's agent, Casey Close, told reporters that he had just met with the Orioles' management team and discussed the possibility of Sexson playing for the American League East team. "Nothing is conclusive at this moment," Close told the Associated Press. "We'll have to see where this thing goes the next 24, 48 hours." Jim Beattie, the Orioles' co-GM, said, "We're going to talk some more. We've gotten certain assurances that he is talking to us because [Sexson] has a lot of interest playing for the Orioles." Bavasi wouldn't comment on a rumor that Sexson had traveled to Seattle for a physical, but said any announcement of a player signing a contract would be announced at Safeco Field. The 6-foot-8 Sexson, who grew up in Vancouver, Wash., has hit 200 home runs -- including 45 each in 2001 and 2003 -- during his six-plus years in the Majors. He missed most of last season with the Diamondbacks because of a left shoulder injury, but has been one of the most coveted free agents this offseason. If the Mariners were able to sign both Sexson and Delgado, Sexson would see considerable playing time in left field. He played 106 games there for Mariners manager Mike Hargrove in Cleveland and did well. "First of all, he's a very good athlete," said Hargrove. "Richie could play left field. He could play just about anywhere he wants to, because he's such a good athlete." Securing a genuine home run threat or two under contract would definitely provide a boost to an organization that came to the four-day Winter Meetings with the money needed to improve its offense. Most MLB organizations checked out of the Anaheim Marriott immediately after Monday's Rule 5 Draft, and the Mariners seemed to be on everyone's minds and tongues. One rumor had them zeroing in on a multiyear contract with Delgado. Another one had them discussing a long-term deal with Beltre, the National League home run king last season. Another rumor claimed Bavasi and his boys were hot on the trail of free agent left-handed pitcher Eric Milton. Exactly which -- if any -- of those rumors were accurate would not be confirmed, denied or even discussed by Bavasi, who said he met with agents Scott Boras (Ron Villone and Beltre) and David Sloane (Delgado) and talked to Close on the phone. "We've been talking," Bavasi said. "There has been a lot of taking. We are getting close and are about halfway, or however way you want to put it, to what we're trying to do." He didn't seem upset that the meetings didn't produce at least one done deal. "You keep referring to getting things done before we leave here and I told you coming in that these [meetings] were convenient," he said. "They were face-to-face, but there is no deadline." Asked if some "positive parameters" had been made in Anaheim, Bavasi paused and said, "Yeah." Jim Street is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. -- <囧> --

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