Mike Blowers, the local kid who played a part in the Seattle Mariners' memorable run to the 1995 pennant and playoffs, could be back.
Club officials were expected today to finish their search for a right-handed hitter to back up Paul Sorrento at first base and spell Russ Davis at third as he comes back from the broken left ankle that ended his season June 6 in Kansas City.
Blowers, who was sent to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a money-saving trade for two minor-leaguers in November 1995, was the front-runner in Mariner discussions last night. Others under consideration were Chris Sabo, who was with the Cincinnati Reds last season, and Greg Colbrunn, a former Florida Marlin.
"I have a couple of options open to me," said Blowers, a former standout at Bethel High School and the University of Washington who lives in Tacoma. "One is Japan. But I don't want to go anywhere if there's a chance to play at home again, a chance to come back and play for Lou (Manager Lou Piniella). I'm hoping a lot we can work something out with the Mariners."
At one point, money was a problem. Larry O'Brien, Blowers' agent, asked for $2 million when Seattle first inquired about bringing Blowers back. The number is now about a third of that.
Blowers will be coming off his own left leg injury, a torn anterior cruciate ligament that ended his only National League season on July 17. He went to Los Angeles on Tuesday, and doctors gave him clearance to play. "They said the knee is perfect," he said.
Blowers, 31, is a third baseman who played both first base and left field in his stint with Seattle, 1992 to '95. He hit .280 in '93 and .289 in '94, then produced career bests of 23 homers and 96 runs batted in in 1995.
He has advantages over both Sabo and Colbrunn. Sabo flopped in his only American League try with Baltimore two years ago; Colbrunn is limited to first base. In addition, Piniella reportedly prefers to have his former player back.
"Mike is one guy we're considering," said Lee Pelekoudas, Seattle's assistant general manager. "We know him and what he brings to the club. He can hurt a pitcher who makes mistakes, and these days a lot of pitchers make mistakes."
Blowers started slowly against NL pitching last year with the Dodgers but had his average up to .265 with 38 RBI when he was injured. He caught his spikes running at third base on June 17.
Blowers missed the last 2 1/2 months as the Dodgers finished a half-game behind the Padres. This winter, L.A. signed Todd Zeile to play third.
Bob Finnigan. "Blowers might return to M's". Seattle Times. 24 Jan., 1997.
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