Seattle Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik again declines to quell Yuniesky Betancourt trade rumors

Ran into Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik, face-to-face this time, as he was coming out of the elevator post-game. We'd talked earlier on the phone, as you know, about Yuniesky Betancourt being scratched. It was just Zduriencik and myself this time, for a few moments. He was smiling, but again, when I asked whether we could just attribute this scratch of Betancourt to an injury flare-up, a disciplinary problem, or anything but a pending deal, he again declined to take the out. "I really can't comment, I'm sorry,'' he said with a smile, holding up his hands. We have a good working relationship. The last time Zduriencik was this evasive was right before the J.J. Putz deal. My sense is, there is a Betancourt trade close to being finalized, though nothing is official yet. Does it involve the Pirates? Now that, I'm not sure about. Read more...