Bob Wolcott hasn't seen the list of 15 players the Mariners will protect in the first round of today's expansion draft, but the right-handed pitcher has a hunch.
``I think I'm available,'' Wolcott said.
A highly-regarded rotation prospect only two years ago, Wolcott figures to be among the players with major league experience being dangled in front of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
The expansion teams will select two players from each of the 28 existing clubs and another one from half the American and National League franchises in today's three-round draft - 35 players apiece.
The Rays select first and fourth and the Diamondbacks second and third. The teams will alternate picks through the remainder of the first round.
The Diamondbacks made their first move yesterday, signing free agent shortstop Jay Bell to a $34 million, five-year contract.
Unlike the 1992 expansion draft, when the Mariners' protection list included more minor league players than established major leaguers, the organization this time is making the AL West champion nucleus unavailable to the Diamondbacks and Devil Rays.
``Some clubs are going to be hurt by the draft,'' said Woody Woodward, M's vice president of baseball operations, ``but I don't think we'll be one of them. We're not that concerned.''
Faced with a $250,000 fine from Major League Baseball for divulging their protected list, Mariners officials have refused to disclose names.
But it is believed the M's have protected eight pitchers and seven position players. They can protect three more players after the first and second rounds.
Besides Wolcott, the Mariners probably didn't initially protect infielders Andy Sheets and Brent Gates, outfielder Raul Ibanez, and right-handed long reliever Bob Wells of Yakima.
The end of today's draft also ends an embargo against announcing trades and a flurry of deals are expected to be announced. Some could occur as early as tonight.
The Boston Red Sox reportedly will acquire NL Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez from the Montreal Expos, and the Cincinnati Reds appear to be closing in on a deal with the Anaheim Angels for center fielder Jim Edmonds.
But don't expect anything to quickly happen with Mariners ace left-hander Randy Johnson.
Lee Pelekoudas, the assistant general manager, denied a published report yesterday that the M's rejected a trade that would send Johnson to the New York Yankees for right-handed reliever Mariano Rivera.
``We haven't turned down any deals,'' Pelekoudas said from Phoenix. ``There haven't been any specific trades presented to us. Nothing is imminent or even hot on the burner. We're listening and sorting through some things.''
According to sources in Arizona, the New York Mets have emerged as the team most interested in Johnson, but general manager Steve Phillips isn't convinced the Mariners really will trade their ace, saying ``I think they're just trying to sense what the market is. My sense is they can afford him next season.''
The Mariners decided last week not to offer Johnson a contract extension beyond next season and said they would entertain offers for the ace left-hander.
``Our preference is keeping him (next season),'' Pelekoudas said.
Not that Wolcott wants to leave the Mariners, ``but going to a new team would be exciting,'' he said from his home in Kent.
Wolcott, whose wife Kristine is expecting the couple's first child, said he would prefer being selected by the Diamondbacks.
``I would like to stay on the West Coast,'' he said. ``We know the Phoenix area. Tampa is the great unknown.''
A second-round draft choice out of Medford, Ore., in 1992, Wolcott became a fan and franchise favorite in '95 when he won four of his six decisions after a late-season callup and then beat the Cleveland Indians in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. But his promising career skidded in both 1996 (7-10, 5.73 ERA) and '97 (5-6, 6.03).
``The Mariners are a good organization and have given me every opportunity to be successful,'' he said. ``I still have a lot of time left in my career and don't think I have shown an ounce of my potential. I know I can do it.''
NOTES: John Olerud's Seattle-based agent, Joe McIntosh, said he has talked to the Mariners about the former Washington State star but shed little light on the possibilities of the first baseman signing with the M's. ``We will wait and see what the expansion draft brings about,'' McIntosh said. Olerud has a three-year, $13.5 million offer from the Mets on the table, and it's doubtful the Mariners could match that price ... Sources close to the Baltimore Orioles say the AL East champs will re-sign free agent reliever Randy Myers, a Vancouver, Wash., native who has said he would be interested in playing for the Mariners.
The untouchables?
Mariners expected to be protected for today's expansion draft:
Pitchers: (8) Randy Johnson, Jeff Fassero, Jamie Moyer, Ken Cloude, Paul Spoljaric, Heathcliff Slocumb, Mike Timlin, Bobby Ayala.
Catcher: (1) Dan Wilson.
Infielders: (3) Alex Rodriguez, Russ Davis, Edgar Martinez.
Outfielders: (3) Ken Griffey Jr., Jay Buhner, Rich Amaral.
Draft rules
The expansion draft will last three rounds.
Each of the 28 existing teams initially protect 15 players, plus three more after the first and second rounds.
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays each will select 35 players from major- and minor-league rosters of the existing teams. All of the existing teams will lose two players while seven American and National League teams will lose three players apiece.
All players with at least 10 years of major-league service and the past five with the same club must be protected (no Mariners involved). All players with no-trade clauses (Jay Buhner), unless those players have waived the no-trade, must be protected.
Players who file for free agency (Paul Sorrento, Mike Blowers, Joey Cora and Roberto Kelly) are not on the protected list.
