ANGELS NOTEBOOK: WASHBURN HOPING FOR CONTRACT.Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer ANAHEIM - Jarrod Washburn Jarrod Michael Washburn (born August 13, 1974 in La Crosse, Wisconsin) is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners. Drafted by the California Angels in the 2nd round of the 1995 amateur draft out of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Washburn won the final game started two World Series games for the Angels in 2002, the same year he won a career-best 18 games. In the Mike Scioscia But Washburn has never landed that coveted cov·et v. cov·et·ed, cov·et·ing, cov·ets v.tr. 1. To feel blameworthy desire for (that which is another's). See Synonyms at envy. 2. To wish for longingly. See Synonyms at desire. , multi-year, multi-million-dollar contract. He's making $6.5 million this season but will be a free agent at the end of the year, and he's a little uncomfortable with the uncertainty of the situation. ``It's tough mentally,'' said Washburn, whose 2.72 ERA this season ranks eighth in the American League American League (AL) One of the two associations of professional baseball teams in the U.S. and Canada designated as major leagues; the other is the National League (NL). . ``You try not to think about it at all, but it's not something you can get out of your mind. ``I'm not approaching it differently, but it feels different. It feels more important each time I go out there. I'm pitching for a job after this season. I've been on a one-year deal every single season, but I always knew I'd be an Angel. After this season, nothing is in stone. It's tough, I don't like the feeling of not knowing anything.'' If he has his way, Washburn will be back with the Angels next season. ``I've always made it publicly known I want to be an Angel my entire career,'' he said. --Salmon in town: Tim Salmon meantime, meanwhile , he's continuing rehab and enjoying life as a father of four children. He's helping out as a coach with his oldest son's Little League team, and generally shuttling all the kids around town in Scottsdale, Ariz. to their respective practices. ``I'm around now, and when I'm around, I'm required to help out,'' he said. ``At 3 p.m., my day's over, it's all about the kids. It's a little taste of real life. It has its positives, but there definitely are times I wish I was playing again.'' Salmon said he knows there might be little use for him with the club even if he's able to return in September, but ``I'd like to get something out of this season going into the winter, so I know what I have to work on.'' |
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