Former Dodgers prospect Franklin Gutierrez gets new chance

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LAS VEGAS -- In Seattle, Ichiro has right field covered. That left Jack Zduriencik, the Mariners’ new general manager, looking for a center fielder at this week’s winter meetings. He even mentioned it to Mets General Manager Omar Minaya on Wednesday afternoon.

‘Omar, I’ve got to get a center fielder,’ Zduriencik said he told Minaya, ‘and the guy I want is the guy in Cleveland.’

Not Grady Sizemore, the Indians’ All-Star center fielder. He wasn’t available.

The guy was Franklin Gutierrez, pushed into part-time duty in right field. Turns out Minaya had also been talking trade with Cleveland, and within hours the three teams had completed a 12-player trade in which the headline player, Seattle closer J.J. Putz, ended up with the Mets.

Gutierrez, 25, was considered a can’t-miss prospect with the Dodgers, a five-tool player, when they traded him to Cleveland for Milton Bradley in 2005. He hit .248 with eight home runs in 399 at-bats for the Indians last season.

Zduriencik praised Gutierrez’s defense and arm. The Mariners plan to make him their regular center fielder.

‘You don’t necessarily have to be a five-tool player to be a good major-league player,’ Zduriencik said. ‘He’s still young. There’s still upside to him. We look forward to the kid playing center field every day.’

--Bill Shaikin