HBT: Mariners 'continue to target' Hamilton

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports provides the following scoop:

The?Seattle Mariners, searching for offense, continue to target slugger?Josh Hamilton.

The Mariners probably aren?t prepared to meet Hamilton?s request for a seven-year deal, but they seem to have emerged as the likeliest alternative to the incumbent?Rangers?by virtue of their perceived willingness to go longer than most. Seattle may be amenable to five years, or perhaps even six, though that is fairly speculative and like all the interested teams they have a wariness about going long for Hamilton.

Heyman?notes on Twitter that the Yankees are not involved ?at this point? and would only consider making an offer to Hamilton if his asking?price drops significantly. ?Not happening,? Heyman concludes.

The Red Sox have been linked and even met with Hamilton at the Winter Meetings last week in Nashville, Tennessee. But they?ve already committed a total of $78 million to Shane Victorino and Mike Napoli.

So it sounds like it will come down to Seattle and Texas, though the Rangers still have their sights set on a trade for Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton. Perhaps a ?mystery team? is waiting in the weeds.

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/09/mariners-continue-to-target-free-agent-josh-hamilton/related/

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