Joel Sherman says that Kei Igawa isn’t in the proposed Jarrod Washburn deal, and the New York Yankees will require Seattle to pay some of Washburn’s contract, rather than taking on Igawa’s.  Jon Heyman reports Seattle is asking for both Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner, not one or the other as I assumed yesterday.  USS Mariner calls BS.  Dan Gaziano (linked below) throws Justin Christian’s name out there along with Cabrera and Gardner’s, though he probably shouldn’t be someone Seattle is interested in, at least not as the primary player. 

It appears the Mariners are shooting for the stars with Washburn.  I would have been happy just dumping him and Jose Vidro off for Igawa, a so-so prospect and salary relief, but I’d be thrilled to get an actual prospect package.

Adrian Beltre’s salary isn’t a problem for the Minnesota Twins, per Danny Knobler.  The problem is in agreeing on a deal.  In other news, Knobler reports that Padres GM Kevin Towers, despite being banned from talking to Seattle during the season, could still end up as Mariners GM, according to two people close to Towers.

Dan Graziano notes that the New York Mets could be in on Arthur Rhodes, but the Florida Marlins are in “hot pursuit.”