Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik hopes to have Felix Hernandez deal done "sooner than later"

The Mariners still haven't finalized the Felix Hernandez contract extension that was first reported last week, but nobody is denying that a deal is in the works, and the Mariners hope to have something to announce soon.

With pitchers and catchers reporting today, general manager Jack Zduriencik met with reporters in Arizona and issued a brief statement, saying he was optimistic something would get done "sooner than later."

"It’s no secret we’ve been in negotiations," he said. "I’ve had really good discussions with his two representatives.

"Although I don’t have an update for you right now, I will say that I think things have been very positive, there’s been a good tone to our discussions, and I hope on a positive note that sooner or later we’ll be able to announce something. But anything of this magnitude both in terms of years and dollars just takes time to work things out. But I would say at this moment, it’s been positive and hopefully sooner than later we’ll have something to say to you that will be significant, but right now that’s all I can comment on. . . We’re working and things are going in a positive direction, and hopefully we’ll have something positive to say shortly. Sooner than later would be the best way to say it."