Eddie

Guardado

Neither experienced any problems throwing from flat ground from 60 feet. Both Guardado and Pineiro are slated to pitch in the Fall Instructional League in Arizona next month.

He is expected to recover from knee and shoulder problems in time to be the Mariners’ closer next season.

“On a scale of 1-10 in terms of leaning toward coming back, right now I’m about a 7,” Guardado said. Publically, the Mariners are saying they hope he does exercise the option. “We hope he picks up his option,” GM Bill Bavasi said. “We explained everything, that we clearly want him to stay. We’re shopping for starters and for run production, not for closers.”

Great news for Guardado, though he’s still done for the rest of this year. He looks like the favorite to enter 2005 as the Mariners’ closer.

The Tigers are also looking to sign him to a minor league deal. Campillo had a 5.38 ERA in 98 2/3 innings in Mexico last year, but in the winter league, he went 10-1 with as 2.05 ERA. Middle relief is probably his upside.

''Dr. [Lewis] Yocum said the injury had been there a season or longer,’' pitching coach Bryan Price said. ''And since he’d pitched on it successfully, the doctor felt that with the surgery and rehab on the knee, he could use his legs to better support the shoulder.’' Guardado said he’s entering spring training feeling good, but we’ll want to see him face hitters before we recommend him.

It’s unlikely that the Twins will be offer arbitration to more than one of their big free agents (Guardado, LaTroy Hawkins and Shannon Stewart), so they will want to know how they stand with each player prior to the Dec. 7 deadline.

The A’s and Red Sox only would seem to have interest in Guardado if they lose out on the Keith Foulke sweepstakes, so these must be conditional offers if they even exist at all. Guardado is expected to choose between the teams this weekend.

Guardado has doubled his ERA since the start of June, from 1.52 to 3.03. Still, he has only blown one save, so he’s in no danger of losing his job.

Guardado will continue working off a mound. He’s only expected to miss some fielding drills.