Seattle Mariners Fan

Some items to wrap up the week…

• The Pirates were close to a trade for J.J. Hardy on Thursday night, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com.  Pittsburgh is known to have an interest in Hardy and could still work out a deal given that the Twins tendered Hardy a contract.
• There is “mutual interest” between Nick Punto and the Indians, reports Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  (Twitter link)  The two sides will continue their talks during the winter meetings.
• Yahoo Sports’ Big League Stew blog collects some of the Washington media’s reaction to Adam Dunn leaving town, and it isn’t very positive.
• It’s looking increasingly unlikely that Arizona will trade Justin Upton, but if Upton is moved, it won’t be to Florida, writes Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.  Rodriguez says the Marlins are looking for a left-handed bench bat and possibly a left-handed reliever, though the club is unlikely to re-sign Will Ohman.
• Phillies assistant GM Scott Proefrock tells Fox Sports Radio’s Jim Bowden (Twitter link) that his club isn’t interested in bringing back Cliff Lee.  “That ship has sailed,” Proefrock said.
• Erik Bedard tells Larry Larue of the Tacoma News Tribune that he was offered a guaranteed deal from another club but turned it down sign a non-guaranteed contract with Seattle.
• The Mariners “are becoming a West Coast version of the Orioles, a place top-tier free agents avoid because the stench of losing is overwhelming,” writes Yahoo’s Steve Henson in his winter meetings preview.