We get a top of the rotation starter who is under contract for multiple years, with a high ceiling…

Padres get, uh, Bedard.

… and unlike the Athletics, we don’t want the Yankee’s luxury tax paying our entire roster, do we?

There’s a difference between the (so-called) luxury tax and revenue sharing. No other franchise sees a penny of NYY luxury tax money.

As for Ichiro, I don’t see him being moved this season. I do, however, see him wearing Dodger blue at the start of the 2010 or 2011 season.

After 2010, Ichiro will have no-trade protection by 5-and-10 rights. He’ll be wearing another uniform only if he says so. It’s safe to assume he’ll say so only if something sweetens the deal for him.

How many more days till catchers and pitchers report for 2010 spring training?

About 250 days.

However, the goal wasn’t ever really to win in 2009. The goal was to build a winning franchise.

And at this point in the season, its time to focus on that, not on this season.

How many more days till catchers and pitchers report for 2010 spring training?

It’s not time to punt 2009 yet. Yes, the odds are against it but the teams in the division and the league are sufficiently flawed that anything is possible.

It is best to adopt Beane’s 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 view of the season. The first thrd is spent finding out what we have : good defense, good pitching, weak hitters. The next third is spent making adjustments. Get some left hand relief pitching. Drop two of Beltre, Lopez, Yuni for better bats. Find another outfielder with some pop. Drop one or both of Sweeney and Wlad. Bring up Clement and Carp. By all means listen to offers for anyone but get back players that can help relatively soon. I don’t want to go to Safeco just to watch prospects that may not pan out. The goal should be a team that can win some games the remainder of the year and in future years. Luckily, it looks like that is Z’s plan.

Above all, don’t trade Ichiro unless the return is overwhelming. These last few years, he has been one of the few reasons to go watch a Mariner’s game. Baseball isn’t just a team sport. It is also an individual sport and the M’s owe it to the fans to put some players out there worth watching. Only one team can win the WS every year but even the M’s can have a player or two that just make you shake your head in wonder. I want to see a player go 5 for 5 or climb the right field wall to make a catch even if the team doesn’t win.

If the right trade for Ichiro materializes, and Ichiro wants to be traded, do it.

If he doesn’t want to be traded and wants to ride with this new wave of players coming, don’t trade him.

But, what Ichiro wants should be the deciding factor.

Normally, I wouldn’t say that- but this is not a rank-and-file major-leaguer, this is a franchise-face that has very legit HoF credentials.

When a guy is in the top 1% of hitters who have ever lived, what he wants for himself should be listened to.

As for the next few weeks, well…rosterbation’s fun and all, but I’ll wait until I’ve formulated some legitimate scenarios before I post them.

I will say ChiSox GM Kenny Williams should look in our direction for Erik Bedard.

And if the Mariners aren’t involved in at least three trades before the trading deadline that bring young talent back, I’ll be more than mildly disappointed.