Mulder mulls D-Backs’ offer

Mark Mulder had some reading material on his plane flight to Dallas Tuesday morning – a contract offer from the Diamondbacks.

The D-Backs’ initial proposal was believed to include a modest guaranteed salary in 2007, with provisions that could increase the base salary, and at least two team options.

Mulder, who met with Texas representatives before returning to his Valley home Tuesday night, also is being courted by Cleveland, the New York Mets, St. Louis and San Diego as he prepares for his wedding on Saturday.

“It’s certainly a starting point,” agent Gregg Clifton said. “We look forward to having more dialogue with the Diamondbacks.”

“I’m sure we’ll reconnect at some point,” D-Backs general manager Josh Byrnes said.

“We’ll let them get back in touch with us and see how quickly they want to move. We’ll throw in a fondue set.”

The D-Backs acquired lefthanders Doug Davis and Dana Eveland from Milwaukee in the Johnny Estrada/Claudio Vargas trade but still are attempting to upgrade their staff with the $10-plus million they have to spend to get their payroll between $60 million and $65 million.

The Seattle Mariners agreed to pay former D-Backs righthander Miguel Batista more than $24 million in a threeyear contract, according to newspaper reports published Tuesday. The Seattle Times, Seattle Post-Intelligencer and The News Tribune of Tacoma reported that the deal will be announced after the 35-yearold pitcher passes a physical examination.

Before entertaining Mulder on Tuesday, Texas agreed to terms with reliever Eric Gagne, a move that could enable the Rangers to trade a reliever, perhaps closer Akinori Otsuka, for young starting pitching.

Texas expressed interest in D-Backs starters Dustin Nippert and Micah Owings at the winter meetings.

While the D-Backs will not talk about trade proposals for fear of tipping their hand, it is believed they have at least discussed parameters of a deal, if not made actual proposals, for Otsuka and Pittsburgh closer Mike Gonzalez, also on the market.

The D-Backs have at least inquired about virtually all of the names that have popped up in published reports, including A’s starters Danny Haren and Joe Blanton, the Pirates’ young starting group and free agent David Wells.

“We’ve at least touched base to see if there is any teeth” to the reports, Byrnes said. “We’ve checked on anyone who could be available.”

At the same time, Byrnes indicated that the price for the top young pitchers is similar to the package Colorado received for Jason Jennings, which is more than the D-Backs appear willing to pay.

A new group of players were added to the free agent pool Tuesday, the deadline for offering contracts to arbitrationeligible players. Seattle did not tender an offer to Joel Piniero, making him a free agent. Jason Bulger also was not offered a contract by the Angels.

Mulder, a Valley resident, already has received several other offers, including one from Texas, although his visit there Tuesday was more to give him the lay of the land.

Mulder was to meet with Texas owner Tom Hicks. The Rangers’ new manager, Ron Washington, was the third base coach at Oakland when Mulder was there.

SNAKE BITES: Arizona tendered contracts to all eight of its arbitration-eligible players – Eric Byrnes, Juan Cruz, Doug Davis, Orlando Hudson, Jorge Julio, Brandon Lyon, Jose Valverde and Luis Vizcaino. The 2007 salary of those players will be determined by an independent arbitrator unless the two sides can agree. … Reliever Keith Foulke has received several offers, although the D-Backs are not believed to have made one yet.