The free-agent relievers began dropping Wednesday.

Matt Guerrier reached agreement with the Dodgers, Jesse Crain with the White Sox.

Kerry Wood moved toward a deal with the Cubs, while Dan Wheeler was in talks with the Red Sox, according to major league sources.

The Mariners also are involved in the game of musical relievers, but with a slightly different twist.

The M’s are trying to trade closer David Aardsma, sources said, and free-agent right-hander Kevin Gregg, a native of Corvallis, Ore., is among the possible replacements.

Gregg, who went 37 for 43 in save chances with a 3.51 ERA for the Blue Jays last season, also has drawn interest from the Red Sox and Orioles, among other clubs.

Aardsma, who turns 29 on Dec. 27, had a breakthrough season in 2009, going 38 for 42 in save chances with a 2.52 ERA, but he slumped in the first half of the year, posting a 5.40 ERA before the All-Star break and a 0.84 ERA after it.

Any desire by the Mariners to move Aardsma is at least partly because of his rising salary in arbitration. He stands to earn a significant raise from $2.75 million this offseason and would be eligible for arbitration again next winter.

The M’s might prefer a more established veteran such as Gregg, particularly when they could get him at a salary comparable to Aardsma’s over a multi-year deal.

— Ken Rosenthal