Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik told Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman, “This division is not out of line yet. We’re back a long way. But all of a sudden, we (win) six of seven, we have [Cliff] Lee and Felix Hernandez, we get (Erik) Bedard and (Doug) Fister coming back. We have to see in the next couple weeks.”

Heyman says it’s a long shot to keep Lee past the deadline, especially since the Mariners are 13 games out of first in the AL West.

“People are calling,” Zduriencik said. “I have to listen. But I have to give us a chance.”

The Mariners could be interested in the the young catchers of the Twins (Wilson Ramos) and the Yankees (Austin Romine, Jesus Montero and Francisco Cervelli). Other possible landing spots for Lee include the Dodgers, Rangers, Twins, Angels and Mets.