Dave over at USSM makes the argument that keeping Raul Ibanez could be a better option than trying to deal him, saying that the compensatory draft picks received for letting Ibanez walk could be better than what Seattle would get in a trade.  Ibanez is heading for type-A free agent status, meaning if Seattle offers him arbitration after season’s end and he signs elsewhere, the Mariners will be awarded two high draftpicks.

Here lies the problem: What if Ibanez accepts whatever Seattle offers him in arbitration?  Then the team has Ibanez for 2010 with no additional prospects to fuel the rebuilding process.

So the main thing Seattle needs to know is whether or not Raul wants to stay in Seattle.  It would seem that he does.  After all, he returned here after playing in Kansas City for a few seasons, he talks lovingly of the city in interviews, he’s a major contributor to the community and is a fan favorite; but none of those points are very solid. 

So, these are the options as I see it:

• Ibanez stays in Seattle for the duration of the 2008 season, is offered arbitration but signs with another team; Seattle recieves the draft picks.
• Ibanez stays for the season, is offered arbitration and accepts and gets Raul’s services for the 2010 season.
• Seattle trades Ibanez for prospects, possibly (probably?) not as good as the potential draft picks and Ibanez’s career as a Mariner is over.
• Seattle trades Ibanez for prospects; Raul re-signs with Seattle to play DH or 1B and to mentor the youth.  Seattle loses a draft pick for signing a type-A free agent (I think that’s how it works).

Raul accepting arbitration is obviously the worst case scenario here, with the other scenarios having their ups and downs.  Like Dave, I think letting him walk, unless another team blows Seattle away with an offer, might be the best choice, but the organization has to know he’s going to decline arbitration first. 

Other posts from today:

• Yankees Interested in Washburn - by Rob
• Seattle’s 5 Highest Paid - by Jon
• AL LVP - by Dustin