Seattle traded the right-handed pitcher to the White Sox on June 27, and general manager Bill Bavasi hinted last week that any player not considered a Mariners icon could be dealt before the July 31 deadline.

Veteran left-handed pitcher Jamie Moyer - the subject of trade rumors involving the Yankees and Red Sox last week - designated hitter Edgar Martinez and catcher Dan Wilson are sentimental favorites in Seattle.

"There are a few (veteran) guys you want to have around," Bavasi said. "And if Freddy is gone, then we need to have Jamie there as a bellwether guy."

He continued: "Edgar falls into that (no-trade) group. Wilson, too. I know what they mean to this organization and the area.

"This can be a mean business. But at some point, you have to know when a player means something special to a club."

The Mariners went 12-14 in June and have had three consecutive losing months for the first time in 10 years, leading those in the clubhouse to believe the roster reshaping will continue.

"Coming out of spring training, we were all ready to go," shortstop Rich Aurilia said. "Who knew we were all going to go cold at once?"

SPEAKING OF: Garcia picked up his first win since the trade Tuesday.

Garcia, who received 2.19 runs of support per nine innings with the Mariners this season, allowed four earned runs and struck out a season-high nine in a 9-6 win against the Twins.

"What a difference," he said. "We can hit, and we can come back. Everyone is excited to play.

"Everyone here comes to the ballpark every day and they want to win."

LOOKING BACK: No. 1 overall draft pick Matt Bush, who is suspended indefinitely by the Padres, apologized last week for his actions on June 20.

The 18-year-old shortstop was arrested at a bar across the street from the Padres' complex in Peoria, Ariz., and charged with disorderly conduct, trespassing and consumption of alcohol by a minor. A preliminary hearing is scheduled Tuesday.

"I just want to let the Padres know that I'm really sorry and I'm not the kind of guy who would turn around and do the same things down the road," Bush told the San Diego Union-Tribune.

"I'm going to definitely learn from it and change my outlook on things and be a better person all in all - not just when people are watching, but when I'm by myself."

STRIKING SIMILARITY: Before their loss against the Indians on Thursday, the Tigers were 37-39 overall. That's the same record the defending world champion Marlins had after 76 games last season.

CHOICE WORDS: Red Sox pitchers Curt Schilling and Scott Williamson reportedly exchanged words during Wednesday's 4-2 loss against the Yankees.

Boston led 2-0 in the seventh inning when Williamson, the former Reds closer, was pulled with what later was diagnosed as a radial nerve impingement in his right forearm.

According to Friday's editions of the Boston Herald, the conversation became heated when Schilling questioned Williamson's desire to remain in the game.

"I feel worse than anyone about what happened because I sent (Mike) Timlin out there when he wasn't warmed up, and that's eating me up," said Williamson, who has a 1.25 ERA in 21 relief appearances this season. "I've been in that situation before and it's tough."

Williamson was placed on the DL Friday.

ODDS AND ENDS: Should the Astros fall 10 or more games off the pace by the All-Star break - they were six games behind the Cardinals entering Saturday - they might explore trading newly acquired center fielder Carlos Beltran . . . The Cubs are in search of a late-inning relief pitcher. Tigers reliever Ugueth Urbina has reportedly drawn interest from Cubs general manager Jim Hendry . . . Giants closer Robb Nen's attempt to come back this season from shoulder surgery is over . . . Royals third baseman Joe Randa underwent minor knee surgery Tuesday, but could return next month.

BIG UNIT MILESTONE: Diamondbacks left-hander Randy Johnson joined Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens and Steve Carlton on Tuesday as the only pitchers to strike out 4,000 career batters.

The achievement was bittersweet for Johnson, who reached the milestone in a 3-2 loss against the Padres that extended Arizona's franchise-long losing streak to 11 games.

"I've done everything short of sell my soul to the devil to win ballgames," he said.

Hot Corner: Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez

No free agent has had a greater impact on his team than the Tigers catcher.

He is on pace to become the first catcher in American League history to win a batting title. A .307 career hitter, Rodriguez entered Saturday with a .376 average, with 22 doubles, 10 home runs and 57 RBI.

The Tigers, coming off a 43-119 season, entered Saturday 37-41, six games behind the division-leading Chicago White Sox.

Not-so-hot Corner: Barry Bonds

How can a player batting .354 with 22 homers and 45 RBI not be hot?

Simply because of the at-bats he's being cheated out of by cowardly managers and pitchers.

Bonds has 62 hits and 63 intentional walks. Overall, Bonds has 119 bases on balls, producing a ridiculous .620 on-base percentage.

Bonds is one walk from tying Rickey Henderson's all-time record of 2,190. Bonds' 547 career intentional walks dwarf the 293 of second-place Hank Aaron.

MLB Power Rankings

1. New York Yankees	Apparently, adding A-Rod and Sheffield didn't hurt.
2. San Francisco Giants	Schmidt has joined elite NL starters.
3. St. Louis Cardinals	Held to six runs in sweep by Pirates.
4. Texas Rangers	Closer Francisco Cordero has been a stud.
5. Chicago Cubs	Getting healthy, look ready for a run.
6. Chicago White Sox	Garcia stunned by run support in Pale Hose debut.
7. Philadelphia Phillies	Thome, Abreu among baseball's best 1-2 punches.
8. Oakland Athletics	Young shortstop Crosby becoming offensive force.
9. Florida Marlins	Burnett winless in six starts since return from DL.
10. Minnesota Twins	Lost AL Central lead with sweep to White Sox.
11. Boston Red Sox	Bickering has begun after Yankee debacle.
12. Milwaukee Brewers	Sexson deal made them contenders, got Brenly fired.
13. Tampa Bay Devil Rays	Could the Red Sox be looking over their shoulders?
14. Cincinnati Reds	Aches and pains hauntingly familiar.
15. Anaheim Angels	Getting healthy, slowly but surely.
16. San Diego Padres	Boomer Wells only 3-5 despite 3.25 ERA.
17. Cleveland Indians	Wedge has made fourth closer change of season.
18. Los Angeles Dodgers	Nomo put on "pitching like crap" list.
19. Houston Astros	Beltran keeps homering; team gets nowhere.
20. Detroit Tigers	Dmitri took walkoff victory hop north.
21. New York Mets	Grizzled veteran lefties Glavine, Leiter awesome.
22. Atlanta Braves	Andruw Jones, Russ Ortiz rumored on trade block.
23. Toronto Blue Jays	Quick: Name three of those guys in the lineup.
24. Baltimore Orioles	Have taken D-Rays' rightful place in cellar.
25. Colorado Rockies	What edge? They're 16-24 at Coors.
26. Pittsburgh Pirates	Have found their niche - spoiler in Central.
27. Seattle Mariners	Boone hit .213 in June, up from .195 in May.
28. Kansas City Royals	Said to have gotten decent return for Beltran.
29. Montreal Expos	Livan Hernandez likely headed to contender.
30. Arizona D'backs	Ownership insists Big Unit isn't on trade block.

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Information from other news organizations and submitted by other baseball writers was used in this report.

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