BROCK AND SALK

Jack Zduriencik addresses Felix Hernandez trade speculation

Apr 20, 2011, 11:49 AM | Updated: 11:57 am

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710Sports.com staff

Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik joined Brock & Salk Wednesday and addressed the speculation that the team could be willing to trade reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Felix Hernandez.

“I have conversations with people from time to time, but I’ve made it clear that we’ve got Felix signed to a nice contract, we like where we’re going, we like what Felix is going to do for us,” Zduriencik said. “… Are we going to go out there and shop this guy? Absolutely not. My desire would be that Felix stays here for a long time and stays here even after this contract is up.

“As we build this thing it’s great to have that No. 1 guy on the mound. The No. 1 place where you have to upgrade is on the mound. There’s no question about it. Every club in baseball that wins has a true No. 1. We have that.”

OF Carlos Peguero was called up from Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday when the team placed Justin Smoak on the bereavement list.

“He’s part of where we’re headed. …You heard the power that this guy has, and hopefully we’ll get to see it here in the next few days,” Zduriencik said of Peguero, who makes his first major league start on Wednesday. “He’s big, he’s strong, he’s athletic, he came into spring training and did a really nice job. Left an impression on anyone that was around him. You’re talking about 6-4, 225 in the middle of your lineup.”

Zduriencik said Peguero’s call-up was in some ways a reward.

“He’s a kid in terms of experience level, but we asked him to do some things at the end of last season. He went home, he did them, he came into spring training and carried himself very well,” Zduriencik said. “So now when it was our first opportunity to bring up a young guy, he was the guy we brought up.”

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Jack Zduriencik addresses Felix Hernandez trade speculation