"The major league baseball non-waiver trade deadline is now three days away. And just so we're clear, the Seattle Mariners are not trading Felix Hernandez.

Whew! That's a relief.

If the Mariners had a dollar for every time general manager Jack Zduriencik was asked a trade-related question about Hernandez, they could afford to sign Prince Fielder in the offseason.

To his credit, Zduriencik never gets annoyed by the queries. Or at least, he never lets on if he does.

So with Hernandez off the table until at least the winter meetings, Zduriencik and the Mariners can go about the business of assessing value.

It was just over a month ago that the Mariners were 37-35, a half game out of first and fresh off a series win over the Phillies. But starting with a ninth-inning meltdown against the Washington Nationals, the Mariners have gone 7-25, including a 17-game losing streak.

Now, Seattle's options are limited. What do the Mariners have to offer? Chone Figgins, Jack Wilson, Jack Cust? This isn't a rummage sale. "