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Mariners manager Eric Wedge speaks to reporters Wednesday during his scheduled availability session at the baseball winter meetings in Nashville.

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Mariners manager Eric Wedge hopes to hear soon that Jason Bay has agreed to a one-year deal with the Mariners. Bay would be used, as we discussed last night, as both a left fielder and a designated hitter if all works out the way the team hopes.

“He’s a guy that we’ve been talking to but nothing’s done yet,” Wedge said. “It’s an interesting story, it’s an interesting situation. But if you are able to make it happen, you’ve got to feel good about taking a chance on aguy that’s been a good performer at times at the big league level. He adds some strength with a right-handed bat, he’s a high character guy, a hard worker. Good personality. He’s had a tough couple of years.

“So, I think that if it does come through for us, he’s a great pickup.”

I asked about whether Bay would be used as a DH.

“Not purely,” Wedge said. “If we can make this work, he can play in the outfield or DH.”

I asked about some type of left-right platoon with Michael Saunders. Wedge, you may remember from past comments, is no fan of platooning young players.

“I don’t think you have to pigeon-hole him,” Wedge said of Bay. “I don’t want to pigeon-hole anybody with that. Especially with our young kids. Let’s give them a chance to play and if it works in that direction, then we can go there.”

Wedge was asked about the need for a veteran presence in the clubhouse.

“I think it’s important to add a veteran presence,” he said. “Jack (Zduriencik) has been talking to everybody and been kicking the tires on so many different individuals and different types of solutions. I think that when you talk about our young team — with the experience they’ve gained over the last year, or year or two — that’s going to help them a great deal. But to have somebody come in there that’s been through the wars and experienced so much more and been through so much more, I think that’s important.”