Felix Hernandez News

Update 1 p.m.: The Mariners must also make a decision on whether to offer salary arbitration to their non-ranked free agents -- Russ Branyan, Endy Chavez, Mike Sweeney, and Miguel Batista .

There were many contributors to the Mariners' Major League-best 24-game improvement in the win column last season, and that's reflected by the number of nominees the team has for the This Year in Baseball Awards for 2009.

Billy Wagner enjoyed his playing days for the Boston Red Sox last year and it looks now that he's leaning towards changing his mind and accepting the role of setup guy for Jonathon Papelbon.

As I am sure you all know, news broke recently about the Seattle Mariners potentially looking into trading for Edwin Jackson, most likely trading Brandon Morrow in the process.

The Mariners had the lowest team earned run average in the American League this past season and as the postseason award season continues, the pitcher that led the way is among the Cy Young Award candidates.

This week, we have celebrated once more the brilliance that was Felix Hernandez in 2009 - no less blinding by virtue of finishing second Tuesday to Zack Greinke in the Cy Young race.

Rob Johnson is undergoing wrist surgery as we speak. I spoke to him earlier this afternoon, when he was on his way to the Seattle clinic where the procedure was to take place.

Seattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu Seattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu PEORIA, Ariz.

Felix Hernandez was the epitome of a Cy Young-caliber pitcher in 2009, and it was a beautiful thing to watch.

Ichiro Suzuki continued two of his career-long streaks in 2009, being selected to the American League All-Star team and accumulating at least 200 hits.

Free agent veteran starter Jarrod Washburn seems to be the target of many teams this offseason -- none of which include the Detroit Tigers.

When asked whether Seattle has interest in pursuing soon-to-be free-agent outfielder/DH Hideki Matsui, Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik told the New York Daily News that he wouldn't comment on other teams' free agents.

The World Series may still be fresh in your mind, but MLB GMs are already focusing on next season.

Nov. 5-19: Free agent filing period. Nov. 9-11: General managers meetings, Chicago.

After not moving Roy Halladay at the trade deadline, the Blue Jays may try again in the offseason.

The Aroldis Chapman market is going to be interesting to judge. The Mariners are the latest team to jump seriously into the bidding, possibly hoping to have another front-line arm so they can deal Felix Hernandez before he reaches free agency.

Every year, the passage into October marks the beginning of baseball's postseason, when some of the game's greatest heroes and moments are born.

Larry Stone gives his take on a wide array of baseball issues and weighs in about the Mariners too.

Ita s time to wrap up our early 2010 rankings with the starting pitchers. A Therea s an extremely fine line between many of these pitchers, so look for things to really move around as we get closer and closer to draft day.

Colleague Larry Stone had an interesting blog post on the fact that Felix Hernandez was blanked in Players' Choice Awards voting by his fellow ballplayers.