Carlos Silva, perhaps the top starting pitcher remaining on the free-agent market, does not figure to be available much longer. The Mariners are in serious negotiations with Silva on a contract that would be worth at least $44 million over four years, according to major-league sources.
For the Mariners, the signing of Silva would put them halfway toward their goal of adding two starting pitchers this off-season. They also are pursuing Orioles left-hander Erik Bedard in a trade. Silva, 28, became a primary focus for the Mariners after they lost Japanese free-agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda to the Dodgers over the weekend.
Silva spent the past four seasons with the Twins, averaging 12 wins, 193 innings and a 4.42 ERA. He was 13-14 with a 4.19 ERA last season, and likely would benefit from a move to Seattle’s pitcher-friendly Safeco Field.
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