Guardado exercises option

Eddie Guardado has exercised his option and will remain with the Mariners for the 2005 season.

"I'm glad that I will be returning to the Mariners next season," said Guardado. "I understand that they had to make a business decision, but they made it very clear to me that they wanted me back and I appreciate the way they’ve always dealt with me."

Two M's strike gold

Bret Boone and Ichiro Suzuki have been selected as Gold Glove Award winners for the 2004 season.

This is the fourth straight year Ichiro has won the award.

Boone has now won three straight Gold Gloves and four overall.

[Editor's note: the number of career awards for Bret Boone was incorrect when this entry was originally published]

Minor league MVPs

The Mariners announced today their Mariners Minor League Most Valuable Players. San Antonio Missions outfielder Shin-soo Choo was named Player of the Year while right-hander Felix Hernandez was named Pitcher of the Year.

Here is the full list for every level of the Mariners' system:
Tacoma (AAA): Player: 1B A.J. Zapp, Pitcher: Randy Williams
San Antonio (AA): Player: OF Shin-soo Choo, Pitcher: Rich Dorman
Inland Empire (A): Player: OF Jon Nelson, Pitcher: Bobby Livingston
Wisconsin (A): Player: OF Wladimir Balentien, Pitcher: Ryan Feierabend, Thomas Oldham
Everett (A): Player: SS Oswaldo Navarro, Pitcher: Shawn Nottingham
Peoria (Rookie): Player: C Daniel Santin, Pitcher: RH Roman Martinez
Venezuelan: Player: INF Luis Valbuena, Pitcher: LH Jose Escalona
Dominican: Player: OF Jairo Hernandez, Pitcher: RH Sterling Soto