Mariners retain Guardado's services

11/02/2005
Respect means as much to Eddie Guardado as money, and the veteran closer received both Wednesday morning, securing his return to the Mariners in 2006.
They arrived via a phone call from Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi.
"I woke up this morning and the thought that this might be my last day as a Mariner crossed my mind," Guardado said. "But Bill called and told me they were going to pick up my option. I didn't know what to say, except, 'Thank you, I appreciate it.'"
The Mariners had until midnight Wednesday to exercise the one-year option on Guardado's contract for $6.25 million, or risk losing the team's most valuable pitcher from last season to free agency. If the Mariners had declined their option, Guardado would have filed for free agency and pursued a two-year contract with another organization. As a last resort, he could have weighed the possibility of returning to Seattle next season for $4.25 million, plus incentives.
That is the path Guardado took last year after the Mariners declined their option. He returned for the same salary ($4 million) he received the previous season.
He had the same option available again, but the scenario Guardado wanted all along -- the organization picking up the option -- played out perfectly.
"Getting something done was real good news," he said. "This makes you feel they really want you. I know the business part of this game and they've got to do their thing, too.
"It would have been a lot easier if they had picked it up sooner," he added. "It gets frustrating, but I'm happy to be a Mariner again."
Bavasi said during a conference call that there was no specific reason for waiting until just before the deadline to exercise the option, and that a final decision was made Tuesday night.
"We did not want to leave ourselves with one more hole [especially] on a club that already has several holes," he said. "As we got close to the deadline, we felt picking up his option was as good as any of our options."
Guardado, who pitched with a small tear in his left rotator cuff last season, posted a 2-3 record with a 2.72 ERA and 36 saves in 58 relief appearances. He converted a club-record 27 consecutive saves from April 13-Aug. 9 and retired 21 consecutive batters during one seven-for-seven save stretch.
"I worked hard to stay on the field," he said. "When I got hurt, I had to prove to them and also to myself that I'm OK. I think I proved that."
There were discussions the past two days about a two-year contract, but that has been put on hold.
"There's nothing in the rules that say we can't talk about it later," said Bavasi.
"We'll see what happens," said Guardado. "I know they've got other guys to deal with, too. But they picked [the option] up and did their job. Now my job is to go out there and save some games."
The Mariners signed "Everyday Eddie" as a free agent prior to the 2004 season after he had two superb seasons with the Twins. He saved 45 games in 2002 and and 41 more in '03, earning a selection to the American League All-Star team each season.
He was 2-2 with a 2.78 ERA and 18 saves for Seattle in '04 before the tear in his rotator cuff and an injury to his right knee ended his season prematurely. Though surgery on his shoulder was recommended at the time, Guardado received a second opinion and avoided surgery by strengthening the shoulder area.
"Eddie is an important piece in what we are trying to do here," Bavasi said. "In addition to his proven track record on the field, Eddie brings the intangibles that every club needs. He's a professional, he's got guts and he has a burning desire to win. That's a great fit for us."
Indeed, the 35-year-old Guardado brings more to the Mariners than just protecting leads.
Some of his clubhouse antics are classic. He is the ring-leader in many of the events that keep players loose. And he's a good teacher.
"I take great pride in showing the young kids how the game should be played," Guardado said. "What I try to explain to the younger guys is what playing in the Major Leagues is all about. It's not about big planes and fancy cars, but about going out there every day and doing your job.
"To be successful, you have to set a routine, stick with it and carry it onto the field. I want to do the best job I can to win a championship here. I'm not getting any younger."
Right-handed reliever J.J. Putz is one of Guardado's disciples.
"He has pretty much taught me everything I know about being in the bullpen," Putz said. "It was all knew to me when I got here. And the way he works every day is a good lesson for all of us."
As good of a day Wednesday was for Guardado, it might have been even better for Putz: His wife, Kelsey, gave birth to twin girls -- Kaelyn and Lauren -- at 11:19 and 11:30 a.m. PT, respectively.

Source: http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/