Jack Zduriencik suggests Mariners not in the Josh Hamilton race

Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik doesn't expect the Mariners to be one of the primary storylines in the pursuit of Josh Hamilton, Greg Johns of MLB.com reported on Friday.

Zduriencik didn't flat out say the Mariners wouldn't pursue Hamilton, but seemed to suggest that the length and monetary amount of the contract might deter the Mariners.

"You have to be realistic about how you're going to allocate your dollars," Zduriencik said. "Some of these things drag out and if you're sitting there waiting on one chip, other chips in front of you might go away and you end up with nothing."

The Mariners are expected to make some sort of a splash in free agency this offseason. The team has extra money without the $18 million contract of Ichiro hanging overhead and a theoretical pledge by the front office to increase payroll to compete with an increasingly very tough AL West.

Once again, like it is most offseasons, offense is the key factor the Mariners are looking to pickup - preferably one that plays the corner outfield. Zduriencik isn't only sticking with the free agent market and is exploring trades - something the Mariners might be able to pull a coup in with their deep farm system.

"I think we'll be able to add," Zduriencik said. "As I've said, it's not the greatest free-agent market, so when you have to tie a player into four to five years, sometimes that is a factor as well. Age and dollars and years, all these things tie in. We're going to try to get a deal or two done, but with all these things considered."

Early reports for Hamilton indicate that the outfield is asking for a seven-year, $175 million deal.