It’s been a long, long time since the Seattle Mariners had a reason to stick their nose in the air like they own the town and act as if. It seems like it’s been a decade, but it’s been about six years, give or take.

The 2007 Seattle Mariners aren’t too bad after all, following three seasons of mediocrity laced with disappointing transactions and a fan base that’s asked for the heads of everyone in the organization not wearing a uniform on game day.

But the question on Friday July 13 isn’t centered around who to fire, who to hire and who to lay the blame on. The question of the day is “what will it take for the M’s to continue to contend in the American League?”

I don’t know, for sure, but standing pat is not the answer.

That’s not to say that GM Bill Bavasi should offer up Adam Jones and Ryan Feierabend for Matt Morris or Carlos Silva just to get something done, but he’s out looking for starting pitching, and very aggressively according to one National League executive.

“I know we’ve had more than one conversation with Seattle,” he said, noting that he hadn’t spoken to Bavasi personally but that the two sides have had more than one team representative contact each other. “We don’t have anyone we’re trying to trade, especially an arm that might help them but we have needs further down in the organization that we may be able to fill and something could get done if the pieces fit.

“But I also understand from talking to other clubs that they (Seattle) have been pushing the action quite a bit, so if they can make a good deal, it sounds like they will pull the trigger.”

One thing we should remember is the club’s stance on top prospect Adam Jones. Jones’ value to the team is still as high as it was when the idea that Ichiro would be leaving town was still a possibility. Yeah, sure, Jones won’t necessarily be needed in center field for at least a few seasons when Ichiro may lose a step or two and move back to right field at age 36 or so, but Jones still brings the same pluses to the big club; power, speed, plus defense, big time throwing arm and perhaps the most underrated value, his league-minimum salary for the first three seasons of his career.

The M’s can get average or better production out of Jones in left field and get it for far less than such production would cost on the trade market or via free agency. Because of that fact, Bavasi should be, and by all accounts is, unwilling to trade the 21-year-old for anything but a legitimate frontline starting pitcher of reasonable age and contract salary and status.

Basically, this means that unless the Houston Astros call and offer Roy Oswalt, signed for five years and $73 million a year ago, Jones isn’t going anywhere. He’s not going to be dealt to the White Sox for Jon Garland or Jose Contreras, and he isn’t being shipped to San Francisco for Noah Lowry.

There might be a multi-player deal that includes a solid, if not frontline starting pitcher, and a left-handed hitting first baseman where the M’s include Jones, and of course Richie Sexson and some cash, but those deals aren’t often concocted in July.

[Yes, I just said concocted.]

The club’s second-tier trade bait includes catcher Jeff Clement, outfielder Wladimir Balentien, left-hander Ryan Feierabend and outfielder Jeremy Reed, whom a few teams still see a cheap stop-gap in center field for a few seasons.

The Mariners have a decision to make between now and the start of the 2008 seasons when Balentien, who is out of options, has to be among the 25 players taken north for Opening Day, traded elsewhere, or exposed to waivers where he wouldn’t last five minutes.

The conundrum stems from the projected ‘08 lineup including so many righty sticks that adding both Balentien and Jones to it further imbalances the order. The ideal solution is trading Sexson, which is another story for another day, or the Mariners could look to get as much trade value as possible from their second best offensive prospect.

Which leads us to this…

“He obviously doesn’t have the kind of tag that brings back what they (Mariners) want,” said an American League scout of Balentien. “But it’s possible that Jones wouldn’t do that, either, at least not by himself. Either way it would have to be some sort of package thing. They’ll have to give up someone they really don’t want to lose; either Jones or a guy from the 25-man. There really isn’t an easy move to make if you are one of the dozen clubs looking for help in the rotation.”

There has been talk of the Mariners trying to pull off a trade that lands them both a starting pitcher and a hitter, but those I have spoke to say that would be contingent on Sexson being traded first or being included in the trade. The Mariners have yet to indicate that they’d be willing to send any cash in any deal for any player going out, and apparently have not discussed the first baseman with any team since December.

In other words, don’t count on that happening.

But count on the Mariners and GM Bill Bavasi doing everything they can to improve the starting rotation before - and after - the July 31 trade deadline.

Just don’t expect to be dazzled with the results, and pray that Dontrelle Willis doesn’t end up in Seattle.

Mets Have Stud Outfield Prospects

Everyone talks about Lastings Milledge but Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez might have brighter futures than the highly-touted Milledge. Gomez, 21, is on the DL with a broken hand, but was playing well in the big leagues prior to the injury.

Martinez , just 18, is also on the DL in Double-A Binghamton, but is an exciting talent that the Mets think very highly of, and for good reason.

I recently caught up with an NL executive and asked about the two outfielders.

“Even though it’s a cliche, Gomez is similar to Jose Reyes offensively,” he said. “He will chase pitches out of the zone but has improved in that area this season. For now, big-league pitchers can get him out by making his expand the zone, but he’s learning.

“As far as what he can do, though… his ceiling is very high. He projects to be an above-average hitter with average power, but possesses game-changing speed. He could end up hitting .290 with 20 homers and 60 steals. He also has Gold-Glove ability in center field, though he’s likely to slide to right with the presence of (Carlos) Beltran, but his arm is tremendous, a 70, and plays easily in any of the three outfield spots.

“His glove is a little wasted in a corner, like Ichiro’s before he made the move, but with he and Reyes at the top of the lineup, you could see 150 steals between them.

“Fernando is more of a pure hitter with a very quick bat and amazing pop, despite his size. He’s about 6 feet and 190 pounds. At 18 he’s more than holding his own in AA and is displaying the ability to hit .300 with 30 homers. He’s a future 70 hitter with 70 power. Statistically speaking, and tools wise, he really looks like a young Miguel Cabrera. He’s an average to slightly above-average runner, average arm and average glove.

“He’s handling center field now, but he’ll likely move to a corner in the majors, or at worst first base. With Beltran in center and Gomez projecting to right field, Martinez is probably the left fielder of the future. I hear he’s set to stay in AA for the remainder of this season, and it’s not out of the question that he returns there to begin next season as well. But if he turns a corner, he could see NY very, very soon.”

For a team who spends tons of money on stars like Pedro Martinez, Billy Wagner, Beltran and Carlos Delgado, the Mets sure know how to draft and develop. Reyes, David Wright, Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber, Joe Smith, Milledge, Gomez and Martinez are all impact talents that could be the foundation of more than a decade of dominance in the senior circuit for the other team in New York.