That's pride f***in' with you

Many SGB readers may know that this is Marcellus Wallace's line in "Pulp Fiction" when he pays off Butch (Bruce Willis' boxer character) to take a dive in the 5th round. I couldn't get this line out of my head as I thought about the pending trade deadline and the quandary our 39-65 Seattle Mariners find themselves in.

Acting GM Lee Pelekoudas needs to take heed of Marcellus' wisdom as he weighs trade offers. Yuniesky first brought up the subject in May, but let's be clear once again. Lee, get what you can and don't let pride f*** with you. This team is no good and don't let whatever small role you had in putting this team together affect the expediency with which you dispatch them to the far corners of pennant contending universe.

Here's the latest rumors:

* Jarrod Washburn to the Yankees - This sounds like a salary dump. The Mariners want some mid-level prospect for Washburn, who has been pitching very well as of late. The Yankees seem to be balking at this. If the Yankees are willing to take on Washburn's salary (about $10 million) for next season, I'd deal him for a bag of bagels or a decent slice. Don't play your hand too hard, Lee.

* Arthur Rhodes to just about everyone - The fact that people are interested in Arthur Rhodes is just another example of how baseball teams are always looking for lefty relief pitchers. Yes, he is having a decent year and has been very good recently, but he is 38, was on the shelf all of 2007 and had a 5-plus ERA in 2006 with the Phillies. So, I'd be happy with anything here including a shishkaberry for Yuniesky. (The SGB one not the Mariners' one. Although that chubby Cuban looks like he's had a stick or two (dozen) in his life.)

* Raul Ibanez to the New York Mets - This one is a little more difficult. Ibanez is the only bat to worry about in our punchless line-up. Also, he is a bargain -- one of the few in the Mariners line-up -- at $5.5 million a year. But hey, that's why people want him. You don't hear a lot of offers for Willie Bloomquist, do you? The Mets seem to be saying that the Mariners are asking too much. I assume this is standard negotiating policy, but the Mariners have to deal him. Try to get more than 5 cents on the dollar, but if you can get a few mid- to upper-level prospects for him, then do it.

If anyone else hears any decent rumors, we'd love to hear them. As a departing shot, I turn once again to the words of Marcellus Wallace.

"F*** pride! Pride only hurts, it never helps."