Wayward Mariners Find Safe Harbor

Three 2005 Mariners--tossed overboard like so much extra ballast--will dock elsewhere in 2006 after floating flotsam and jetsam-like in the waters of free agency. Three ex-M's found new ports in the past couple of days.

We intend to persist with these annoying nautical references, so get used to it.

Bret Boone ran aground in both Seattle and Minnesota last season, and put himself in drydock for September. But the New York Mets, seeking a potential alternative to the sampan that is Kaz Matsui, will moor Boone at their Florida pier, with the chance that he'll be permitted to dock in Flushing Bay come April.

Frustrated with receiving the worst run support in the major leagues, and suspended for trying to artificially improve his Plimsoll Line, Ryan Franklin generated a hell of a wake last season. Now he'll have Jim Thome Aaron Rowand as his powerhouse. He's docking in Philly this year.

And then there's Ramon Santiago. The Mariners swapped Carlos Guillen for him before the 2004 season, which is like trading an Chris-Craft for a drowned cat. Two seasons later, Guillen has 273 hits for Detroit, Santiago's managed eight for the M's. We're not sure what the poopdeck is, but we're pretty confident that Santiago belongs on it. Anyway, Detroit thinks he's still seaworthy.