Could this be the final few hours of left-hander Jarrod Washburn’s career with the Mariners?

That is one of the hottest topics on this hot Monday afternoon around Safeco Field, where the Mariners open a three-game series against the Blue Jays tonight.

Washburn, the hottest pitcher in the rotation not named Felix Hernandez, is scheduled to start Tuesday night’s game, but there is no guarantee that will happen.

Same goes for Blue Jays right-hander Roy Halladay, slated to start Wednesday afternoon’s series finale.

I will head down to the Mariners clubhouse in a few minutes and ask Washburn if he’s heard anything one way or another.

But the smart money says he will be traded to the Brewers, sometime in the next 24 hours.

— Jim Street