It would be an exaggeration to say that the Seattle Mariners have been linked to every single available and potentially available hitter in the major leagues. It would be less of an exaggeration to say that about the Mariners than it would be to say that about anybody else. Michael Bourn is a new name that people are talking about, since the Mariners met with Scott Boras and Boras represents Bourn and also lots of other players too. Raul Ibanez is a name that makes some sense and that isn't far-fetched. Today's Nate McLouth link is weird and probably garbage, as is today's Brennan Boesch link. Justin Upton could still be traded and the Mariners could still be involved or have the potential to become involved.
But the big geode is Josh Hamilton. Toward the start of the offseason, some writers speculated that the Mariners could be in on Hamilton to the end. Not long ago, Jack Zduriencik downplayed the Mariners' interest. Now, bam! Accept Josh Hamilton rumors back into your life!
The Mariners have met with Hamilton here at the meetings. By definition, that's exactly what's done at the winter meetings. And because whatever:
While Rangers are meeting with Hamilton, as @jonheymancbs reported, Mariners still seem to think they have a chance at him.
— DKnobler (@DKnobler) December 4, 2012
The Mariners do have a chance at Hamilton, because Hamilton hasn't signed anywhere yet and the Mariners aren't literally and thoroughly uninterested. The Mariners have said their whole piece about how they don't want to give Hamilton too many years, but nobody wants to give Hamilton seven or eight years from the looks of things, so then that wouldn't be the factor. If the Mariners have a certain range, Hamilton is seemingly not yet out of that range.
But the Mariners have been linked to so many players already that you have to presume certain things are being overstated, exaggerated, or simply made up. It works to a lot of peoples' interests to have the Mariners thought to be interested in an available player. The Josh Hamilton market is unclear, and things could accelerate if other teams think the Mariners are hot in pursuit. Maybe the Mariners are hot in pursuit. Maybe they're tepid in pursuit. Maybe they want the Hamilton market to hurry up so that other markets can also hurry up. Everything that goes on is interconnected.
For the Mariners, Nick Swisher seems to be a more likely acquisition than Josh Hamilton. That's relative, and neither is an actual likely acquisition in isolation. There was a rumor today that Swisher's favorite city is Seattle, and that might or might not be meaningful or complete bullshit. There's talk that Hamilton will be guided by God and won't just go to the high bidder, and that might also be meaningful or complete bullshit. What we've learned so far today is that the Mariners are highly interested in adding offense to their baseball club. If we were goldfish, we would think, wow, that is fresh and fascinating information! Then we would think, wow, that is fresh and fascinating information! Then we would think, wow, that is fresh and fascinating information! twice was enough