Briefs: MLK march, Felix Hernandez likely staying with the Mariners

28th annual King march honors legacy
Hundreds marched in downtown Seattle Monday in remembrance of the Civil Rights Movement several days after what would have been Martin Luther King Jr.'s 81st birthday. The crowd that rallied at Garfield High School was estimated to be between 600 to 1,000 strong.


King spoke at Garfield High in November 1961, despite letters sent to the school saying a controversial speaker should not be allowed at a public school funded by taxpayer dollars.


Organizers of the event held community workshops on topics such as community building and HIV in the African-American community. This year's workshop theme was ‘Justice Now! Healthcare, Housing, Jobs and Education!'

There were many children and teens in the crowd that spanned generational and racial gaps, celebrating the history of the Civil Rights Movement as well as rallying for its continuation in other forms.


The group marched to the federal building on Second Avenue, carrying signs with slogans promoting health care reform. Some included slogans like "Money for jobs and education, not war."

"I think he'd [King] be proud of what we have here today," Former Garfield principal Roscoe Bass told seattlepi.com. "We have a lot to do, but this will help."

 

Hernandez to Mariners with $78 million deal
The Mariners are close to signing a deal with Venezuelan pitcher Felix Hernandez worth $15.6 million a year and as much as $20 million in 2014.


The deal would make Hernandez the highest paid pitcher in Mariners franchise history and the ninth highest paid MLB pitcher of all time. Only Ichiro Suzuki's contract of $17 million a year is higher on the Mariners roster.


Hernandez's agent is in Seattle negotiating the deal, which could be finalized as early as Friday. Hernandez would then be just one stateside physical away from closing the deal.


Hernandez, a pitcher whose fastball has been clocked as high as 100 mph, is just 23 years old. This deal would buy out his free agency for the next offseason. He would be able to sign a new contract during his next free agency period, when Hernandez is 28 years old.


Hernandez has started in all 34 games he has played for the Mariners, averaging 3.5 runs allowed per game including an improved 2.5 runs allowed per game last season.With the acquisition of Cliff Lee by the Mariners from Philadelphia in a trade last month, the Mariners now have two proven pitchers in Hernandez and Lee.