Rich Aurilla has been designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners.

Aurilia was hitting .241 for the Mariners with four home runs and 28 RBIs in 73 games. He signed a one-year contract with the Mariners in the offseason after eight years with the San Francisco Giants.

The club has 10 days to release, trade or outright Aurilia to the minors.

"The writing was on the wall for something to happen," Aurilia said. "Of course, no player ever wants to hear the word 'designated' or 'release,' but in a sense as an individual this could be the best thing that happened."

What does this mean to the Cubs? Probably nothing. Alex Gonzalez is due back soon so it doesn't make any sense to get Aurilla.

On the other hand the Cubs have been scouting the Seattle Mariners and I would not be shocked at all that the Cubs either trade a nothing prospect or wait till he gets released to aquire him.

If I start thinking like the Cubs, then Aurilla is the perfect lightning in the bottle player the Cubs love to claim off the scrap heap. Re-unite him with his old coach Dusty Baker and believe his down fall in Seattle was due to the park, because he hit .271 on the road and only .222 at home. This would allow the Cubs to finally part ways with Rey Ordonez and claim at the same time they are trying to address the offensive problems of this team and get their 2005 replacement SS on the cheap.

Hey I know it's not pretty, but do you want to see Rey Ordonez at SS in 2005? That's what I thought!