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Lefty

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Now that the 2004 season is officially over, we look towards next year. What do you hope the Diamondbacks do in the offseason? Do they try and trade RJ? Will Sexson re-sign? It should be an interesting winter.
 

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According to ESPN Insider, the White Sox and Yankees are making RJ their #1 priority this winter. The problem is both of their farm systems have no worthwhile prospects that are close and I don't see RJ accepting a trade to the South Side.

The Angels want a left-handed starter and are losing around $30 million in salaries this offseason, but I unfortunately will be surprised if anything gets done with Anaheim with their GM. I would be willing to guess they'll go after Odalis Perez and obtain a CF for Jose Guillen.

The Dodgers have re-signing Adrian Beltre to worry about so I doubt they bring on an extra $16 million.

An interesting option would be Philadelphia who have the prospects, but like the White Sox, I don't see the RJ accepting a trade there.

My initial hunch if there were to be a trade this winter would be Johnson going to the Yankees, Kevin Brown (and Javier Vazquez) & cash going to the Braves, and a glut of Yankee and Brave prospects and some more cash heading to Arizona.

EDIT - After thinking about this I'd have to amend this to have the Yankess taking on Mike Hampton and his contract as well. Another possibility would also have to be San Francisco. i don't know what their financial situation is (can someone tell me how the Giants privately paid for Pac-Bell and did way better than the BOB) but management up there has to realize that their window is closing with Bonds under steroid suspicion and getting old.
 
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Lefty

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From the Star Ledger in NJ.

Yankees: Boss says Go after Johnson
Vazquez may be lure to get lefty; Pedro also of interest
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
BY DAN GRAZIANO
Star-Ledger Staff
The first day of the Yankees' organizational meetings in Tampa, Fla., dragged into the night, with team executives meeting with owner George Steinbrenner over dinner at Malio's steakhouse. And while Joe Torre's coaching staff is likely to be the first item on the team's off-season agenda, there were some big names kicking around the table.

According to a baseball official with knowledge of the discussion, Steinbrenner asked his front office about rekindling their summer pursuit of Arizona Diamondbacks ace left-hander Randy Johnson, even if it means giving up on Javier Vazquez.

Steinbrenner also asked about the team's chances of signing Boston right-hander Pedro Martinez, who will be a free agent, and about the availability of Oakland aces Tim Hudson and Barry Zito.

Team executives are down on the idea of Martinez, who doesn't throw as hard as he used to throw and is loathed in the Yankees clubhouse. Zito also hasn't pitched up to his 2002 Cy Young standards over the past two seasons, and most people seem to believe the A's will sign Hudson to an extension.

But Johnson is the guy Steinbrenner has coveted all year, and the Yankees' inability to make a trade for the Big Unit in July was one of the big disappointments of the season until the playoffs.

The Diamondbacks scouted the Yankees' minor-league system in July but found nothing they considered worthy of acquiring in exchange for Johnson. That situation hasn't improved, but the Yankees are considering a couple of possible scenarios that could land the big lefty.

First, they could dangle Vazquez, who had a disappointing second half of his first Yankee season. Vazquez has three years and $34.5 million left on his contract, but if Arizona likes Vazquez, the Yankees might not have to pay any. Vazquez's $10.5 million salary next year would be a savings from the $17 million they owe Johnson, and Vazquez, at 28, is 13 years younger.

There are people in the Yankees' front office who believe Vazquez is a good enough pitcher to someday be a No. 1 starter for the Yankees, but Steinbrenner always gets the final say.

Another possibility -- one the Yankees explored back in July when they discussed getting Brad Penny from Florida and flipping him to Arizona for Johnson -- is getting a third team involved.

The Chicago White Sox this week expressed some interest in Johnson, but it's believed they can't afford him and would only be acquiring him in order to deal him elsewhere.

The Yankees also are expected to explore the free-agent pitching market, with David Wells, Carl Pavano, Derek Lowe and Martinez looming as potential targets.

As for the coaching staff, the Yankees continue to wait to see if Willie Randolph gets the Mets' managerial job and creates a bench coach vacancy.

They also continue to wait to see what happens with pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre, who could decide to retire but also might not be asked back. There has been talk of firing bullpen coach Rich Monteleone.
 
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Lefty

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BY DAN GRAZIANO
Star-Ledger Staff
Brian Cashman and Joe Torre will be back in 2005, but their punishment for the Yankees' playoff failure might be subtler than a simple firing would be.

According to a baseball official familiar with the Yankees organizational meetings that have taken place in Tampa, Fla., the past two days, team owner George Steinbrenner has spent much more time listening to his Tampa-based contingent of executives than the New York-based group.

Tuesday, the first day of meetings, featured an entire afternoon's worth of meetings between Steinbrenner and the Tampa executives, while GM Cashman and team president Randy Levine, who flew in from New York, didn't join in until the evening. Torre isn't even in Tampa, even though his coaching staff has been a topic of conversation.

Steinbrenner has been meeting with Tampa-based vice presidents Mark Newman, Gordon Blakeley, Lin Garrett, Damon Oppenheimer and Billy Connors, along with scouts Bill Emslie and Chuck Cottier.

Emslie, in particular, is a sign that Steinbrenner is needling Cashman, since Emslie was the scout who recommended that Steinbrenner sign David Ortiz two years ago when Minnesota released him. At the time, Cashman told Steinbrenner there was no need for Ortiz, since the team already had first basemen Jason Giambi and Nick Johnson. As Ortiz has beaten up on the Yankees the past two years, Steinbrenner has repeatedly thrown that decision in his GM's face.

The Tampa group's influence has a chance to show itself in a few concrete ways over the coming weeks and months.

First, the Tampa group favors replacing pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre with Triple-A Columbus pitching coach Neil Allen. Connors, Steinbrenner's trusted pitching guru, is a fan of Allen's and would like to see him promoted. If Stottlemyre wants to return, and if Torre is successful in arguing for his return, Allen could still be added to the big-league coaching staff as bullpen coach, though the Yankees would have to fire current bullpen coach Rich Monteleone. And should Stottlemyre want out, Torre is said to favor former Yankees great Ron Guidry, who works annually as a spring training instructor, as his replacement.

Second, at Steinbrenner's urging, the Yankees plan to pursue a trade for Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Randy Johnson. Since they were unable to acquire Johnson this summer, they are formulating backup plans. The Tampa contingent favors free-agent left-hander Eric Milton, who just completed the four-year, $21 million contract he signed with Minnesota before the 2001 season and won 14 games for the Phillies in 2004. Milton was a Yankee draft pick, traded to Minnesota for Chuck Knoblauch before the 1998 season, and Newman, et al., would like to bring him back as proof that the Yankee farm system can, in fact, produce big-league pitchers.

Tampa and New York both agree that the team should not pursue free-agent right-hander Pedro Martinez, but Steinbrenner is pushing his executives to look into it, because of Martinez's star power and what it would mean to him to steal one of Boston's ace pitchers.

The Yankees also will make a big-money free-agent pitch to center fielder Carlos Beltran, who they see as the long-term replacement for Bernie Williams.

*Having canceled them for security reasons after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Yankees plan to begin tours of Yankee Stadium again Nov. 6. The tours will run daily throughout the winter.
 

JerkFace

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i would trade randy for vazquez and a couple of prospects
 
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Lefty

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October 29, 2004 -- George Steinbrenner tipped his hat to the champion Red Sox yesterday at the same time vowing to make his shell-shocked club better next year when the Yankees will be chasing their blood rivals.
"Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox, to their ownership and to the people of Boston. The Red Sox deserve all the credit for what they have accomplished," The Boss said in a statement issued through PR guru Howard Rubenstein.

"But make no mistake about it," The Boss added. "We are hard at work and will be back with a strong team for our loyal New York Yankee fans."

Make no mistake about something else: Steinbrenner is still smarting about his high-priced stable of talent flushing a 3-0 lead to the Red Sox in the AL East.

Yesterday he finished three days of meetings in Tampa where the foundation was put in place to address the Yankees' glaring need for pitching.

With the free agent class thin, and possibly very skinny if Carl Pavano stays with the Marlins, the Yankees are looking into what it will take to pry Randy Johnson away from the Diamondbacks and Tim Hudson from the A's.
 

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New York Daily News reporting that Wally Backman will be named next manager of the D-Backs. Golf clap.
 
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Lefty

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If true, I am happy for Wally. Maybe he knew something yesterday when he turned down the chance for an interview with the Mets.
 

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The backpedalling on that is amusing - now the word is his plane was grounded for mechanical problems, in the rush to get people off the plane he lost his wallet and they wouldn't let anyone go back on to find it, so the team put him up at the Hyatt and then he got his wallet in the AM and flew home to be with his wife who is recovering from surgery and no one has a clue where the Mets got the idea he's withdrawn because he never told that to his agent... LOL.
Sounds like he probably got the job unless Acta blows them away - being apparently a close friend of both AlP and E-Rod are not the credentials I'd want to present if I were Acta.

btw - in an article today Melvin said he was told they are NOT going "rebuild" but looking to restock with "mature veterans/FA" and use select youngsters. Why even buy a 2005 calendar? 2004 will do just fine....
 

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As I've been saying, I really don't want them to Re-Sign Sexson unless it's for pretty cheap...Cut your losses.
 
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Here is the latest from Peter Gammons. The first half is all about the Red Sox.

By Peter Gammons
Special to ESPN.com
Oct. 30

In the end, the cliches and pagan incantations about The Curse turned out to be as real as rumors that spacemen from Mars had landed in Webbs Mills, Maine. The curse, as most everyone now realizes, was management and pitching, and all it took for the new management to reverse the past was not a deal with Asgaya Gigagei -- or any other Native American god -- but to trade for Curt Schilling and sign Keith Foulke.

In fact, if only Foulke were with the Red Sox in 1986, when they had no closer, or 2003, when Grady Little trusted no reliever, we never would have been burdened with the tedious notion of a curse. The Cardinals had Bob Gibson in 1967, the 1975 Reds were simply better, and in 1978 it came down to Ron Guidry versus Mike Torrez. In 2004, Schilling limped to three victories -- which means in 14 career postseason starts he has allowed more than two earned runs twice, once when he could barely stand -- and Foulke was the dominant figure of the postseason, allowing seven hits and a run with nine strikeouts in 14 innings.

If Major League Baseball actually took such things seriously, Foulke would have been the MVP of the World Series; Fox didn't consider Foulke enough of a name to give him the award. But Schilling said that the one snapshot he and his teammates will carry from this October is the closer "standing on the mound with the ball." Foulke finished all four games against the Cardinals, and allowed a Larry Walker home run with a 4-0 lead in Game 3 because he knew a walk could ignite a rally and invited hitters to try to take him deep until it got close.

Against the Yankees, Foulke saved the Red Sox by throwing 100 pitches in less than 50 hours, culminated by striking out Tony Clark with two on and two out in Game 6 when he had no changeup. He saved one Anaheim game, then got a strikeout with the bases loaded in the eighth, pitched a scoreless ninth and got Boston to extra innings for David Ortiz to hit his dramatic series-ending walkoff piece.

Did teammates know this was in Foulke? "Not really," says Kevin Millar. "He always seemed to be a guy you felt comfortable against because he doesn't throw 100. But, man, he is a ferocious competitor. Talk about guys who take it to another level?"

"You never know until a player gets there," says Theo Epstein. "We obviously liked Keith, that's why we signed him. This is one case where expectations were exceeded."

After the Red Sox went down 3-0 to the Yankees and Tim Wakefield went to the bullpen in Game 3 to save it for a seven-game series, three past and present 20-game winners named Schilling, Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe started six games and combined for a 1.81 earned run average. Mike Timlin and Alan Embree, giants in consecutive Octobers, bridged to Foulke. The Cardinal starters, on the other hand, got only 17 swings and misses in more than 350 pitches, with only Jason Marquis, who threw more balls than strikes, making it through the fifth inning.

"We can't give enough credit to the scouts who prepared us for St. Louis," said Lowe. "We had a tremendous game plan." To Lowe's undying credit, seldom do players acknowledge those who spend 200-something days a year away from their families, scrambling on red eyes to offer information, analysis and ideas. In this case, Boston advance scout Dave Jauss, with the help of Jerry DiPoto and coordinated by Galen Carr, prepared a creative and brilliant scouting report.

It was Jauss who always wanted to try running on Mariano Rivera, and, it turned out, changed the entire series when Dave Roberts ran first on Rivera, then Tom Gordon. Then for the Cardinals, the dilemma of the great three in the heart of the order was attacked: They threw breaking balls at Albert Pujols that broke back on the inside corner, froze him and temporarily smudged his strike zone; they threw inside changeups to Scott Rolen; they buzzed Jim Edmonds, went in, out and up, and when Edmonds struck out against Foulke for the third time in four at-bats in the ninth Wednesday night, the trio was 6-for-45 with one RBI. "The pitchers did a great job executing that plan," said one Red Sox official. "But don't forget that it was Jason Varitek who was guiding them through that execution. No catcher prepares and guides better than Jason."

Epstein knows that "two years are never alike," and that too often winning teams fall in love with the moment and shackle themselves with emotional, bad contracts. The Red Sox will do everything they can to sign Varitek and make him the face and soul of the franchise. But Martinez, Lowe, Orlando Cabrera, Doug Mirabelli and Pokey Reese all could be gone if their asking prices do not fit what the club feels are their values. As Terry Francona managed so well to never lose the focus of a seven-game series against the Yankees, so Epstein and John Henry will not lose the focus on wanting 2004 and ensuing seasons to be the recreation of 1903-1918, when the Red Sox won five world championships and might have won a sixth had John McGraw not refused to allow the '04 Giants to play a world series against Boston's AL champions.

In the short term, Boston likely cannot easily replace the 30 wins and 399 2/3 innings provided by Martinez and Lowe. They can try to sign Brad Radke (Mr. Reliable) or Carl Pavano, but there is a bridge until either late 2005 or 2006 when youngsters Jon Papelbon and Jon Lester are ready to step in.

They think it will take four years and $30 million to re-sign Cabrera, who was telling people at the World Series that his agents had told him several teams were in, including the Cardinals if they lose Edgar Renteria. Boston will not go that far with Cabrera, because they believe Hanley Ramirez has a chance to be special, a Florida State free safety athlete with power, speed and electricity, and Ramirez's ETA is 2006. They'd love to sign Omar Vizquel for shortstop and Barry Larkin as a 100-something game utilityman, but word is that Vizquel is very close to signing with the White Sox for two years and $8 million to play for fellow Venezuelan shortstop Ozzie Guillen.

Renteria, Nomar Garciaparra, Cabrera, Cristian Guzman, Vizquel, Larkin and Reese are shortstops on the market. Problem is, the Red Sox, Cardinals, Cubs, Giants, White Sox, Rangers, Mariners, Reds, Diamondbacks and Washington are in the market for shortstops, to varying degrees of need.

Next year has finally come, which means that for Henry and Epstein, promises are unnecessary this winter, and a few miles down Route 95 they have support in the reminder that the Bob Kraft/Bill Belichick/Scott Pioli Patriots are the model of competency and rationality. Friday, 34 hours after Foulke snatched Renteria's bounder, the Red Sox began a daylong series of personnel meetings crafting their winter game plan: Build a team not for January, but for the long run of 2005 and even 2004-2014. This, following the immediate history of trading local icon Garciaparra on July 31 and 90 days later winning the World Series no previous Boston baseball administration had been able to do since Calvin Coolidge was governor of the Commonwealth.

News and notes
One can be certain that the Red Sox will present Garciaparra with a ring, just as the Yankees showed class and understanding by leaving the lights on after Game 7 of the ALCS and allowing 8,000 Red Sox fans to frolic for more than an hour in Yankee Stadium, not to mention letting players, families and front office executives to celebrate on the field late into the night ...

Now, of course, King George's War restarts. The Yankees will be in on Carlos Beltran, but also want two starters. If they can't get Randy Johnson, they'll dabble for Eric Milton (his 0.58 ground ball/fly ball ratio is a killer in that whiffle ball park in Philly, although 23 of his 43 gopher balls were on the road), Jaret Wright, Radke, Pavano and Martinez. The issue of Jon Lieber's $8.5 million option will be worth watching; Lieber is very good, and probably can rework a longer deal with a lesser 2005 hit ...

Baltimore is looking for a starting pitcher and a righthanded-hitting outfielder and may move or non-tender Jay Gibbons ... The White Sox have little money, and Ken Williams is starting at shortstop and trying to find a starter and an outfielder ... Cleveland has changed its priority from starter to closer, but Armando Benitez or Troy Percival may be pricey. The Indians will sign a second-tier starter, but likely won't try to get into it for one of Oakland's Big Three ...

Once the Angels decline the option on Ramon Ortiz, they're supposed to have $13 million to get them to a $95 million budget, a number owner Artie Moreno may move up. They need a shortstop (Garciaparra?) and a starter. However, having decided to say goodbye to Troy Glaus, Bill Stoneman is expected to make a run at Beltran and possibly Pedro Martinez.

Atlanta's budget remains at $80 million if John Schuerholz cannot trade Andruw Jones, with J.D. Drew, Wright and Russ Ortiz on the market. The Braves may look for bullpen help and use John Smoltz in the rotation with Mike Hampton, John Thomson, Horacio Ramirez and Jose Capellan ... The Cubs want a closer, but first have to decide their situation at short, the outfield and second base ... The Cardinals are worried that without a bump in budget it may be difficult to sign Renteria, Mike Matheny and Woody Williams (whose agents are looking for more than one year), and will be major players in the Randy Johnson trade sweepstakes ...

The Mariners and Tigers are both expected to be big spenders, with the M's looking for power (Richie Sexson ... Carlos Delgado ... Adrian Beltre ... Troy Glaus?). Detroit will spend for a closer and veteran starter, like Derek Lowe ... The Padres think they can get out from underneath Ryan Klesko's contract by putting Sean Burroughs in a deal with Klesko ... The Giants need a shortstop, closer and center fielder, with little money to remain at $80 million ...

Oakland may put Mark Mulder, Barry Zito and Tim Hudson on the market and take the best deal for one of them. It appears Billy Beane plans to take a step back and develop young players. OF-1B Nick Swisher ("Jim Edmonds at $300,000," says one scout) and 1B-DH Dan Johnson are expected to play a lot in 2005, with RHP Joe Blanton in the rotation and Huston Street and Jairo Garcia in the bullpen. The A's think catcher Landon Powell and outfielders Jason Perry and Richie Robnett will be ready in a hurry, so 2005 may be a re-tooling season with Erubiel Durazo available ...

The Rangers have $15 million to spend, and will sign one or two lesser pitchers and try to get a shortstop and trade Alfonso Soriano ... In one year, catcher Sandy Martinez played for Aguilas when it won the Dominican League, the Dominican Republic when it won the Caribbean world series, Buffalo in winning the International League and was with the Red Sox when they won the World Series ... Jim Leyland is very much in the Philly managerial chase, and the Mets have been told Wally Backman is getting the Arizona job over Bob Melvin and Manny Acta ...

Ricky Henderson called the Red Sox clubhouse Thursday looking for tickets for Saturday's sixth game. Told there was no game, Henderson asked, "Why?" OK. In 1980, Ricky asked an Oakland teammate, "How long will it take me to drive to the Dominican?" Really ...

It doesn't get much better than "Enjoy the Sandwich," the tribute to Warren Zevon, with staggering performances by Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt on "Poor, Poor Pitiful Me," Bruce Springsteen on "My Ride's Here," Peter Yorn on "Splendid Isolation" and Jordan Zevon on "Studebaker." Time for one more, listen to the late genius's "Bill Lee."
 
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Lefty

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By JOEL SHERMAN

October 31, 2004 -- Barry Zito or Tim Hudson is available, Randy Johnson is almost certain to be, and many clubs (not just the large markets) have money to spend. Let the intrigue known as the baseball offseason begin with these seven key issues:

Oakland GM Billy Beane could keep his big three starters (Zito, Hudson, Mark Mulder) together for a 2005 title push. But he's leaning toward proactively dealing one and taking a step back by adding young talent while creating payroll flexibility to sign one of the others long-term. Beane prefers that long-term man be Hudson, but he is the only one of the trio who is a free agent after next season. So if Oakland doesn't think he will re-enlist, he is most likely to go. Clubs are scared off by Mulder's chronic hip condition and poor finish, making Zito the more probable bait.

Toronto, for sure, wants Zito, and the Yankees, Mets, Texas and Baltimore will have interest in an Oakland starter. Aggressive Beane wants to act now, which is problematic for the Yanks, who want to save chips to see if Arizona dangles Johnson, who could still end up a Dodger, Angel or Cardinal.

Don't fit the lone $100 million free agent for pinstripes so quickly. It is amazing how many executives and agents dismiss the hype that Carlos Beltran (left) will definitely be a Yankee. One AL assistant GM, echoing a growing sentiment, said, "The Cubs want to change their centerpiece away from Sammy Sosa, saw up close in their division what Beltran could do as an Astro, and have the money," which will top $100 million. There are conflicting reports if Angels owner Arte Moreno is a spender or wants to cut back, but a person close to Beltran said Anaheim is where the center fielder will go. An AL GM said, "This is about money and the Yanks have the money and the desire which makes them the favorites, but I still don't think he ends up there."

To address center-field defense, the Yanks could look to remove financial burdens elsewhere in a trade for Andruw Jones, Jim Edmonds or Darin Erstad.


With Beltran, Adrian Beltre and J.D. Drew, Boras has arguably the three best position free agents, plus suddenly hot Derek Lowe, Magglio Ordonez, Jason Varitek and Kevin Millwood. Boras' style is to patiently build a market then create a Winter Meetings frenzy, which could slow a lot of action into December.

The Dodgers want to keep Beltre; if not, they have been linked to Troy Glaus, who also will draw interest from Boston and Atlanta. The Braves want to retain Drew, but might not have the money. He could go to a place (Cubs, Yanks, maybe the Mets) spurned by Beltran. Remember, if Boras is running the show, the player goes to the highest bidder, period. But there has been talk of Beltran leaving Boras, which could mean he wants to take less money and stay in Houston.

A year ago, Glaus, Nomar Garciaparra and Ordonez all could have expected long-term, huge-money pacts. Now, to re-prove themselves, one-year pacts are more likely. The Mets want at least one player from the lowered-market group of Ordonez, Carlos Delgado (Toronto) and Richie Sexson, who is sure to spurn Arizona's latest efforts to keep him.

Seattle has money to land two from Glaus, Delgado and Sexson (plus interest in Troy Percival and Jaret Wright). "Keep an eye on [Giants GM] Brian Sabean," an NL GM said. "He is a great bottom-feeder. I wouldn't be surprised if he got both Garciaparra and Ordonez to surround Barry Bonds for a year."

The Angels, Cubs, White Sox and Cardinals will investigate shortstops Garciaparra, Orlando Cabrera and Edgar Renteria. Count on the Dodgers to at least examine Ordonez and Delgado.

Notice how easily Boston pitching went through the NL's best lineup, and how the Cardinals' double-digit winners wilted against the AL's best lineup. An AL manager said, "If you are trading for Randy Johnson, going from the NL to the AL is a big deal, especially since he is 41."

Carl Pavano (left) is the hot free-agent pitcher, but he did his work in the NL and a pitcher's park in Florida. Fly ball-throwing Eric Milton allowed 43 homers for Philly. The Yanks have interest in both despite the NL-to-AL withering of Kevin Brown and Javier Vazquez.

The Red Sox were sturdy enough to trade popular Garciaparra at a low moment, so expect them to be particularly bold now as champs. They will do everything to retain spiritual leader Varitek, whom the Dodgers also want, and make a legit offer for Pedro Martinez (left). But don't be surprised if they replace Martinez and Lowe with Pavano and Brad Radke, who probably is going to price himself out of Minnesota and end up on the Yankees' radar screen. Johnny Damon, with one year left on his pact, could be dealt to make a run at Beltran. And Boston will be proactive if they can move Manny Ramirez's onerous pact.

With many teams having dispensed bad contracts, watch for unlikely bidders.

The Indians want Radke, but might settle for Matt Clement (below) or Lowe, and they like Al Leiter (so does Philly) if he does not stay in New York.

The Orioles will be aggressive on pitching (Pavano, Milton, Lowe). Pavano recently left Casey Close for a small southern Florida-based agent, Scott Shapiro, and that could mean he wants to stay with the Marlins.

Delgado yearns to be nearer his Puerto Rico home, and Florida always pops up out of nowhere on a big name. Lowe's three terrific postseason starts are going to be worth millions to him and the Tigers are interested in bringing him home to Michigan. Toronto (Clement, Percival, Corey Koskie) want in on the secondary pitching market, as does Texas (Lowe), which hoped to use Alfonso Soriano for pitching, but is finding out how much his market has dwindled.
 

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'Bottom Feeder' - took me a minute, but by that guess he means someone who darts in and picks up the big fishies who sink past the surface feeding frenzy. What does that make JoeBlows? Maybe a sea anemone, who passively catches bits of well-chewed detritus that happen to drift in reach?
 
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Jon Heyman
SPORTS COLUMNIST
October 31, 2004

Three things all Yankees baseball people were on the same page about at their Tampa meeting with George Steinbrenner: 1) Going for Carlos Beltran. 2) Trying for Randy Johnson, if available. 3) Wishing the meeting would end.

Publicly, Yankees people say they first addressed "internal business." So after Steinbrenner put away the paddle, they discussed free-agent targets.

Word is Beltran will seek $18 million to $20 million a year after his monster season and postseason. The Cubs, Red Sox, Orioles, Astros and Angels are in the mix, too.

While Red Sox people say it's a long shot to trade World Series MVP Manny Ramirez (the Mets are extremely interested), maybe that changes if Boston gets Beltran.

Yankees people were nearly unanimous in not wanting Pedro Martinez. There's concern about his arm and clubhouse chemistry, considering past Yankees run-ins (i.e. with Jorge Posada, who would be his catcher).

After Johnson, Yankees people prefer, in order, Carl Pavano, Eric Milton, others.

A Diamondbacks person said they actually like several Yankees prospects, but only ones at low levels, and that they "couldn't do that to our fans."

If the Diamondbacks trade Johnson now, they're still looking for two major league-ready prospects. Meaning the Yankees still might be two short.

No fewer than three teams called Friday regarding Javier Vazquez, obviously hoping for a fire sale. Kevin Brown's the one who must go. In his year in New York, the only relationship he formed was with the wall. Perhaps Atlanta might be interested if the Yankees pay most of his $15-million salary.

Series observations

Red Sox execs did a terrific job. But let's not forget their first plan included putting Ramirez on irrevocable waivers and allowing any other team to claim him without compensation (no team did). And signs suggest they first tried for Vazquez before then- Expos general manager Omar Minaya told Boston it didn't match up. They settled for Curt Schilling.

That said, Boston GM Theo Epstein stole Schilling for little (Casey Fossum), signed Keith Foulke and got rid of Nomar Garciaparra in a trade that brought Orlando Cabrera, three brilliant strokes. Nice of his former teammates to vote a full share for Garciaparra when his only contribution was leaving.

Schilling was terrific, but one Yankees person remarked, "He sure didn't look injured running out there to celebrate. We didn't think he was hurt." Which might explain the no-bunt strategy.

Sights seen waiting for elevators at the World Series: 1) Jim Leyland chain-smoking in St. Louis, 2) Two Red Sox wives, aided by a den mother type, pushing to the front of the line and leaving a man on crutches and dozens of others waiting for the next car. "We have an interview," one wife declared, 3) Red Sox president Larry Lucchino frantically waving to Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt before Game 4 and DeWitt acting as if he didn't know Lucchino, and 4) Lou Brock looking as if he had lost his best friend after Game 4.

Paranoia accompanied the Cardinals throughout. They basically padlocked the clubhouse after Game 3, and it took MLB security director Kevin Hallinan's pounding on the door to open it. Maybe their up-tight play reflected their manager, now 5-13 in World Series play.

Tipping my cap

No paper has a better columnist quartet than Bob Ryan, Dan Shaughnessy, Gordon Edes and Jackie MacMullan of The Boston Globe.

Singles

Martinez is looking for $13 million to $15 million a year. The Red Sox offered $25 million for two years in midseason, but he felt insulted when they mentioned insurance. The Red Sox have offered Jason Varitek three years. He wants more.

This is the deepest free-agent shortstop class ever, with Garciaparra, Cabrera, Edgar Renteria, Omar Vizquel, Royce Clayton, Cristian Guzman and Barry Larkin.

The Padres are looking to dump Ryan Klesko. And they're still thinking about Jason Kendall. The Diamondbacks keep upping their offer to Richie Sexson.

Sosa on the move?

While Cubs GM Jim Hendry said, "I'm going about my business assuming he'll be our rightfielder," that doesn't mean they're not trying to trade Sammy Sosa.

A person close to Sosa said he left the finale early because he was upset after his agent heard the night before from the Cubs saying they intended to trade him. The Cubs asked him to rework his contract to facilitate a trade. Sosa's initial response: No way.

Randolph-Alomar connection

One sign pointing to Willie Randolph getting the Mets' job is club executives talking about the merits of Sandy Alomar Sr. as bench coach. Alomar, a Yankees teammate of Randolph's, would be an excellent choice. Let's just hope he doesn't bring back Roberto.

If Wally Backman doesn't get the Arizona job, it was bad strategy to pull out of the Mets' derby.

Mets people initially wondered if Leyland was using them to enhance his chances in Philly. If Leyland (absolutely awful in Colorado before walking away from the job) gets the Mets' job, they'll have to convince us this really was Minaya's call.
 

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Rumor du jour is the White Sox offering a package built around Jon Garland and Carlos Lee with others for Randy. Seeing that it involves two young, talented MLB-ready players I say it's worth a look.
 
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Sosa rant shifts Cubs' PR disaster into overdrive

November 1, 2004

BY RON RAPOPORT SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

Sammy Sosa is gone. Toast. Burned to a crisp. He is so far gone I expect to see him enter the Hall of Fame wearing a White Sox cap.

Sosa' latest blast at the Cubs ("I'm not a sixth batter ... I felt poorly treated''), delivered from the friendly confines of his home in the Dominican Republic over the weekend, can be viewed as a self-pitying rant, but to me it highlights how the final two weeks of the season sent the Cubs into a meltdown from top to bottom.

Even when the Cubs did foolish things in the past -- feuding with the rooftop owners, setting up a bogus ticket-selling system -- they never seemed so unable to control their message and as blind-sided by events as they have been this last month.

Their two most high-profile salesmen, Steve Stone and Chip Caray, depart with all guns blazing in the direction of their former employers. Dusty Baker's most heralded quality, his reputation as a handler of players, takes a serious hit.

Jim Hendry's reaction to Sosa's inexcusable last-day walkabout is to show he lied about when he left the ballpark. This makes Sosa's return untenable, lowers his trade value and increases the need for, and the money that will have to be offered to, Nomar Garciaparra.

Andy MacPhail is unable to keep the damage from spreading and is reduced to wondering why things should have spun so wildly out of control simply because the Cubs played poorly at the end.

One day soon, Cubs fans will turn their attention from last season and look ahead. With four holes to fill in a starting lineup that did, after all, come within a few victories of the playoffs, with urgent problems in the bullpen to solve and without Sosa to blame, it is not an encouraging sight.
 
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Carlos Delgado News:
Free agent Carlos Delgado would like to play for the Orioles, his agent said.
"Baltimore, we are most significantly interested in," said agent David Sloane. "It's a great place to hit. Hitting in that batting order is very interesting to us." The Orioles are expected to make one of the top bids for Delgado. The Mets also figure to be in the running.
^^^ Washington Post

Sammy Sosa News:
The Cubs could get some help from the Rockies in a three-team deal as they attempt to move Sammy Sosa.
The Rockies aren't interested in Sosa, but in Preston Wilson, Charles Johnson and Denny Neagle, they have bad contracts they're looking to move and something could be worked out. It's still going to be very hard for the Cubs to deal Sosa unless the outfielder waives a contract clause guaranteeing his $18 million option for 2006 if he's traded.
^^^ Daily Southtown

Gabe White News:
Reds declined LHP Gabe White's $1.925 million mutual option for 2005.
He receives a $200,000 buyout. White had a 6.94 ERA with the Yankees and Reds last season, so this doesn't come as a surprise. He'll be a pretty good pickup at a modest price this winter.

Troy Percival News:
Before letting Troy Percival go, the Angels did talk to him about becoming a setup man, an idea he rejected.
No contract terms were discussed because Percival was not interested in the job, agent Paul Cohen said.

Shawn Green News:
Shawn Green's name has been involved in rumors, but he is now a 10-and-5 player and can't be traded without his permission.
Green, who is due $16 million next season, is one of the players that has been mentioned as a possibility to fill the Mets' hole in right field. However, a deal is unlikely since he wants to stay in Los Angeles. "Shawn is very, very happy as a Dodger," agent Greg Genske said. "His No. 1 choice would be to play for the Dodgers."
^^^ Los Angeles Times

Jose Guillen News:
The Mets have expressed interest in acquiring Jose Guillen from the Angels.
The Angels need a left-handed reliever and might want Mike Stanton. However, since Stanton is overpaid, it would take more than him to get a deal done.
^^^ Orange County Register

Carl Pavano News:
The 18-game winner is one of the most prized free agents on the market, and is the Marlins' top priority this offseason. The Maimi Herald reported that Florida GM Larry Benifest would meet Wednesday with Pavano and his agent, Scott Shapiro. Pavano, however, was noncommittal, telling the Herald he was looking forward to testing the market. ... The Red Sox will very likely make a pitch for his services, but this tidbit from the Miami Herald may make Sox fans cringe: ''New York is a great possibility," Pavano said. "I'm from Connecticut. (The Yankees) are in the thick of it every year.''
^^^ Boston Globe

Brad Radke News:
Radke confirmed to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that the Twins have made his a two-year offer. He also said that negotiations were in the early stages and he didn't expect any thing to be finalized soon. One person familiar with negotiations said the Twins' offer was for two years at between $14 million and $19 million. Radke didn't want to get specific, but said that the offer, "was closer to $14 million than $19 million." He added, "I kind of like the two-year deal thing," he said, "but we're just going to have to work on that and see what they throw on. I'm leaning toward the two years than the three years." ... In a chat on Boston.com, ESPN's Peter Gammons predicts that if talks with Pedro become protracted, the Sox may make a hard run at Radke. The Sox "paid Pedro and Lowe $23M this year. They might be able to get Radke and Pavano for a little less, if Pavano will leave Florida." Gammons also mentioned that Radke was Boston's preference, not Pavano.
^^^ Boston Globe

Nomar Garciaparra News:
According to the New York Daily News, Garciaparra -- who is believed to be seeking a one-year deal to reestablish his market value -- has told friends he would be open to a position change to either second base or third. Could this open the door for the Yankees, who are looking for a second baseman? Stay tuned. ... The Cubs are optimistic they can re-sign Garciaparra to a one-year deal, the Chicago Tribune reported. "I think there is mutual interest from both sides in Nomar returning, and we'll be having further discussions soon," Cubs GM Jim Hendry told the paper.
^^^ Boston Globe

Randy Johnson News:
The hot stove season is only a few days old, and already the Randy Johnson talk has begun. A baseball official with knowledge of last week's Yankees organizational meetings told the Newark Star-Ledger that the team has considered offering Jorge Posada in a possible deal for Johnson or Oakland right-hander Tim Hudson. "It would have to be a major, major deal," the official said. "But Posada does give (the Yankees) some flexibility." ... Meanwhile, the D-Backs said yesterday that they were going to try to keep Johnson: "We'd love to have him stay," said Ken Kendrick, one of the Diamondbacks' controlling owners. "You certainly want to look at the ballclub and make sure we have the right mix of veterans and younger players. And we certainly hope Randy will be among them. Nobody is able to take his place. I think we all know that."
^^^ Boston Globe

Carlos Beltran News:
The Astros have exclusive negotiating rights with Beltran until Nov. 12, but if they can't come to terms, expect the Yankees to get involved in a big way. Beltran is the top free agent on the market. In a chat on Boston.com, ESPN's Peter Gammons said the Astros "think they have a legit shot because Beltran loves it there -- remember, he is a very serious, religious kid and his family friend Chi Chi Rodriguez has ties to Houston. But the Angels, Cubs and Yankees will be big players."
^^^ Boston Globe

Roger Clemens News:
Roger Clemens may be heading into the sunset. The Rocket told the Chicago Sun-Times recently he was leaning toward retirement: ''I kind of know which way I'm heading, but I'm going to take some time to talk things over with my family,'' Clemens said. "Ninety-nine (percent retired), that's the way I'm leaning."
^^^ Boston Globe

David Wells News:
According to the New York Daily News, the 42-year-old Wells would consider joining the pitching-depleted Yankees for the third time. "He would certainly consider going back to being a Yankee as an option, if the situation was right," said his agent, Gregg Clifton. "There's no way he's retiring. He had a great season and he's told me he hasn't felt this well in years. He wasn't in pain the whole season, other than the normal aches and pains that everyone gets from pitching. His back was never an issue. He absolutely, positively wants to pitch again. He had a great time last year and I think it rejuvenated him."
^^^ Boston Globe

Jack Wilson News:
The Pirates and shortstop Jack Wilson have discussed a two-year contract.
Negotiations are expected to resume after the shortstop returns from the Japan trip in a couple of weeks. The Pirates already control Wilson through 2007. Giving him the multiyear deal after what could go down as his career year is a bad idea.
^^^ Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Mike Cameron News:
Mike Cameron said yesterday would be willing to move to right field to make room for Carlos Beltran.
Cameron is a better center fielder than Beltran, but Beltran isn't going to sign with a team that would want to put him anywhere other center. The Mets are longshots in the competition for the year's top free agent
^^^ Mets's MLB site

Richie Sexson News:
Richie Sexson "absolutely" has interest in talking to the Mets, his agent Casey Close said.
The Mets aren't among the teams that have contacted Sexson, but it's likely that they will after they settle on a manager
^^^ NY Daily News

Kenny Lofton News:
The Yankees might have found a taker for Kenny Lofton in the Rockies.
Lofton will almost certainly be dealt, if not to Colorado then to another team. The Rockies still aren't particularly interested in getting younger and Preston Wilson will probably move to right field if he stays, so Lofton is a fit.
^^^ Neward Star-Ledger

Washington Short Stop News:
In his first conference call as Washington's GM, Jim Bowden said he intends to keep Frank Robinson as manager and that he hopes to bring in a starting shortstop.
It doesn't look like Maicer Izturis is going to have a starting job in next year's infield. Shortstops the team could look at include Barry Larkin, Royce Clayton, Rich Aurilia and Deivi Cruz
^^^ Baltimore Sun
 
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Al Leiter News:
Mets lefty Al Leiter will provisionally file for free agency Friday, the Newark Star-Ledger reported. That means Leiter will hit the market if the Mets decline his $10 million option, which seems very likely. The Ledger reported "Leiter would have to wait until the Mets officially decline the option, then file for free agency, and the whole process could take a day or two (after Nov. 12). But by filing provisionally, he would have the right to talk to teams immediately, which he appears prepared to do, and the Yankees, Phillies and Red Sox would certainly seem interested."
^^^ Boston Globe

Neifi Perez News:
Cubs agreed to terms with shortstop Neifi Perez on a one-year contract.
This was expected. Perez isn't any better of a player than Ramon Martinez, but as long as he's not a regular, carrying him isn't going to hurt the Cubs.
^^^ rotoworld.com

Ugueth Urbina News:
Tigers exercised RHP Ugueth Urbina's $4 million option for 2005.
This may be $1 million more than GM Dave Dombrowski wanted to pay, but Urbina surely would have gotten $4 million from another team as a free agent, and if the Tigers decide they don't want to pay him the full $4 million, they'll be able to get something in return for him next summer. Until then, Urbina will act as the team's closer.
^^^ rotoworld.com

Buddy Groom News:
Orioles declined LHP Buddy Groom's $3 million option for 2005.
Even though he's 39 and has struggled the last two years, Groom will be a popular free agent. There are plenty of teams looking for left-handed relief.
^^^ rotoworld.com

Chris Young News:
The Rangers are likely to sign Chris Young to a multiyear deal in order to stop him from joining the Sacramento Kings as a backup center.
How about that for a negotiating tactic? In order to prevent Young from playing basketball in the offseason, the Rangers apparently will give him a nice raise over what a player entering his first full season would normally make.
^^^ Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Tim Hudson (The Big 3) News:
The A's haven't had talks with any other teams about Tim Hudson, Barry Zito or Mark Mulder, GM Billy Beane said.
"My thoughts going into (the meetings) are that I'm very happy with the Big Three," Beane said. "This rumor stuff is so out of control it's ridiculous." Beane hopes to sign Hudson to a long-term extension, and though he won't say it, he'd probably be willing to deal Zito to free up some money. Hudson's name has come up in several rumors, but the A's view him in much the same way they do Eric Chavez.
^^^ San Francisco Chronicle

Arthur Rhodes for Charles Johnson News:
A's GM Billy Beane shot down the rumor of an Arthur Rhodes-for-Charles Johnson deal.
Beane said it was something he and the Rockies discussed during the summer, but that the talks haven't been revisited in the offseason. Beane seemed more interested in replacing Damian Miller through free agency, perhaps with Gregg Zaun
^^^ San Francisco Chronicle

Tino Martinez News:
Rather than re-sign John Olerud, the Yankees may try to bring Tino Martinez back to New York to act as Jason Giambi insurance.
Martinez would probably be very interested in rejoining the Yankees if he were guaranteed a starting job. As is, he might not be ready to become a part-time player.
^^^ New York Daily News

Tony Bautista News:
Tony Batista, who made $1.5 million in 2004, hopes to receive a multiyear deal as a free agent this winter.
Batista drove in 110 runs last season, so some team likely will overpay to sign him. Still, he probably won't get more than a one-year deal with an option year. Washington is trying to bring him back but isn't close to doing so. "We're apart on years and dollars," said assistant GM Tony Siegle.
^^^ Washington Post

Jim Tracy News:
Manager Jim Tracy said he anticipated reaching agreement on a new contract with the Dodgers within a few days.
"We're heading in the right direction," Tracy said. "I'm very hopeful we can get something done early next week.
^^^ Los Angeles Times

Adrian Beltre News:
Dodgers GM Paul DePodesta has had preliminary discussions with Adrian Beltre's agent, Scott Boras, but has yet to make a contract offer.
"We've talked in principle more than anything else," DePodesta said. "We have talked term but not dollars." An offer may be made next week. The Dodgers will do what they can to re-sign Beltre. If it doesn't happen, they'll probably bring in either Troy Glaus or Corey Koskie.
^^^ Orange County Register

Justin Speier News:
The Rockies had some interest in Justin Speier, but the Blue Jays told them they planned to keep him.
Before his strong finish, Speier was a top candidate to be non-tendered. Now he's set to enter 2005 as one of Toronto's top setup men.
^^^ Denver Post

Ronnie Beliard News:
Indians GM Mark Shapiro put the chances of keeping arbitration-eligible second baseman Ronnie Belliard as "50-50."
We'll go with 30/70. Unless they trade Matt Lawton, the Indians only have two places to put Casey Blake: second base and right field. They'd probably prefer to put him at second, as he'd block Grady Sizemore and, later on, Jody Gerut in right
^^^ Cleveland Plain Dealer

Richie Sexson News:
Richie Sexson wants to see what kind of moves the Diamondbacks are going to make before he decides to re-sign with the team.
As a result, he's probably a month away from making a decision. Sexson is also considering the two New York teams and perhaps his hometown team of Seattle. As for his shoulder, he said he's ready to play now. "I’m rehabbing my butt off," he says. "The shoulder feels great. I’m swinging the bat 100 percent. I’m ready to go."
^^^ Portland Tribune

Rocco Baldelli News:
Rocco Baldelli did suffer a torn left ACL, the Tampa Tribune reports.
The Devil Rays cound confirm the news after he undergoes surgery this afternoon. Baldelli should miss at least the first couple of months of the season, and the team could use him as a DH after he returns. Carl Crawford likely will take over in center, and Joey Gathright will be a top candidate to play left field.
^^^ Tampa Tribune

Jose Mesa News:
The Pirates are believed to be close to signing Jose Mesa to a one-year deal worth $2 million-$2.5 million.
Probably a poor use of the Pirates' limited resources, but if they don't spend the money on Mesa, they'll probably just waste it on another mediocrity. Shawn Estes and Danny Bautista are available.
^^^ Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Woody Williams News:
Cardinals declined RHP Woody Williams' $8 million option for 2005.
Williams gets a $900,000 buyout. It's likely that the Cardinals will try to re-sign Williams for $4 million-$5 million. He'll probably find a better deal elsewhere.
^^^ rotoworld.com
 
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By Peter Gammons
Special to ESPN.com

Nov. 6

MIAMI -- As baseball's general managers gather on Key Biscayne, Fla., this weekend, the seeds of trades will be laid. Can the Cubs find some way to move Sammy Sosa to the Dodgers (for Shawn Green), the Mets or in a three-way through Colorado involving Preston Wilson? … Who will line up to try to trade for one of Oakland's Big Three? Now that someone has equipped the new Diamondbacks owners with laptops and taught them how to Googlesearch, do they realize they are going to have to trade Randy Johnson? … Are there markets for Andruw Jones, Mike Piazza, Jose Vidro, Edgardo Alfonzo, Ryan Klesko, Paul Konerko, Alfonso Soriano, Kevin Brown and/or Jose Guillen?

These are all vital calls, and meanwhile the agents will fly in from Capistrano and begin their market management. Pedro Martinez, arguably the best starting pitcher on the market, already has a two-year, $25.5 million offer (with an option for another $13 million) in his pocket as he awaits the moves of George Steinbrenner and the Angels' Arte Moreno, among others.

Martinez may now be closer to Greg Maddux than the Pedro of 1997-2001 and his earned run average may have climbed to 3.90, but he is still 50-17 over the last three years. His strikeouts per 9 IP have only declined from 10.8 to 9.93 to 9.41. If the Red Sox think this is dragging on too long and that he is playing games, they will continue to pound after Jason Varitek and move on to either Brad Radke (34-23 in three years) or Carl Pavano, whose three-year career path (6-10, 5.16; 12-13, 4.30; 18-8, 3.00) is the opposite of Derek Lowe's (21-8, 2.58; 17-7, 4.47; 14-12, 5.42).

Pedro, Carlos Beltran, Adrian Beltre, Richie Sexson (Seattle?), Troy Glaus, Carlos Delgado, Magglio Ordonez, J.D. Drew, Armando Benitez and Steve Finley are among the others whose journeys will be fascinating to watch. And everyone this week begins to differentiate between fact and fiction, or, better put, non-fiction.

There are rumblings that the Yankees will go hard after the Red Sox by trying to sign Martinez, Lowe and Varitek. However, finding a trade for Jorge Posada won't be easy unless they pay a big chunk of his contract, which would make Varitek a $13 million-$14 million catcher. But not only is Steinbrenner after the Red Sox, the Yanks' front office was furious during their playoff series at the complaints filed by Boston with the Commissioner's Office for things like Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez getting radar readings from the stands … The Yankees are expected to make quick, hard runs at Eric Milton and Steve Kline in an effort to get more left-handed, then work the market … The Red Sox had hoped that Varitek would give them a chance to sign him early, but that may be unlikely, a leftover from the Larry Lucchino negotiations this spring …

Oakland will see what's out there in a deal for one of its big three starting pitchers, but Billy Beane wants to take a step toward 2006, when prospects Huston Street, Joe Blanton, Nick Swisher, Jairo Garcia, Landon Powell, Richie Robnett, et al, may be in the majors. The A's have no interest in Posada or Trot Nixon, but as teams like the Orioles and Phillies line up, the A's do not count out Brian Cashman and Theo Epstein because of their ability to go get what Beane can obtain only with great creativity …

In Wally Backman, we've had the first embarrassment for the new Arizona ownership. Next, Richie Sexson is expected to move to Seattle. Then, after rejecting a cosmetic offer, Randy Johnson will force a trade. And Johnson plans to let the D-Backs know that if he isn't traded before the season, he will reject any trade, play it out and move on at the end of the season, as the great one believes he can still pitch another four or five years … Then there's the reality that the D-Backs have to pay $34.5 million in 2005 to players who are no longer active. Ah, the folly of deferred payments …

The Reds are hoping that Austin Kearns can convert to third base, despite early reports indicating that the switch was a Ken Williams disaster (not that his move to third base was his fault). If Kearns cannot make the transition, a Toronto deal involving Eric Hinske is possible … The Orioles have some interest in Delgado, but he is a back-burner guy. They prefer a right-handed hitting outfielder, and are waiting for Scott Boras to give them medical data that shows he is recovering from knee surgery. The inclination is to try to trade for a starter, with a Jorge Julio-Shawn Chacon deal on the table. The O's know they have fiscal problems competing in the division with the Yankees and Red Sox. "Baseball is now divided into blue states and red states," says Mike Flanagan. "We're on the fringe of the blue states" …

Jim Bowden had nothing to lose in taking the Washington GM job. He has assurances that he will have some money to build interest, and other GMs know he will be creative and active in seeing what's out there for Vidro, Nick Johnson and others. Don't be surprised if Bowden takes Jose Guillen off Anaheim's hands … Oh yes. The Red Sox have no intention of putting Manny Ramirez back on irrevocable waivers … Colorado has no interest in Jason Giambi even if it means moving Todd Helton's contract. The Rockies contacted Boston, which had no interest, because its trying to fit its signings into $25-30 million … Gerry Hunsicker was simply worn out by Houston owner Drayton McLane. Hunsicker is one of the best in the business, and his name will likely surface in Washington. In fact, it's already surfaced in Philadelphia as Ed Wade's replacement if the Phillies stumble again … With a small market for closers, the Indians may make a preemptive strike on Benitez, the Cubs on Troy Percival.
 
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Alfonso Sorians News:
If the Yankees don't land Carlos Beltran, they're reportedly told the Rangers they would be interested in bringing back Alfonso Soriano to play center field.
Javier Vazquez and cash for Soriano might work. Getting a trade done with prospects would be tougher for the Yankees. In the end, they'd rather just sign Beltran.
^^^ New York Post

John Franco News:
The Mets have informed John Franco that they're not interested in re-signing him.
If Franco wants to retire, he will be offered a position with the team. However, the 44-year-old left-hander would prefer to continue his career. "Right now I've filed my free agency and three or four teams already called my agent and have expressed interest," Franco said.
^^^ New York Daily News

Mike Naknamura News:
Michael Nakamura, who was removed from Toronto's 40-man roster after the season, is currently working out for teams in Japan.
Major leaguers typically just sign with Japanese teams, but since Nakamura's father was Japanese, he'll be a part of the amateur draft later this month.
^^^ The Japan Times

Sammy Sosa News:
Cubs GM Jim Hendry said he hasn't yet had any discussions with the Dodgers about Sammy Sosa, though he didn't rule out talking to him at the GM meetings.
Hendry won't even admit to shopping Sosa, though it seems everyone in baseball believes he is. "I'm assuming Sammy is going to be our right fielder," Hendry said.
^^^ Chicago Tribune

Kendry Morales to Indians News:
The Indians aren't interested in Cuban defector Kendry Morales at his current price tag.
Agent David Valdes is looking for a deal similar to the one Mark Teixeira got when he was a drafted: a four-year, $9.5 million contract. Valdes said that Morales could be signed as soon as this week.
^^^ Cleveland Plain Dealer

Jason Kendall News:
For the third year in a row, the Padres are expected to talk to the Pirates about a Jason Kendall trade.
Ryan Klesko, who is owed $16 million over the next two years, could be sent to Pittsburgh for Kendall and cash, making Ramon Hernandez trade bait. The Padres must figure they'd have a better chance of getting a quality center fielder or starting pitcher for Hernandez than they would for Klesko.
^^^ Beaver County Times

Doug Brocail News:
The Rangers are trying to re-sign free agent Doug Brocail, but negotiations aren't progressing.
Brocail didn't give up an earned run in his final 18 appearances, lowering his ERA from 7.20 to 4.13. Maybe that makes him think he's worth $1 million or more as a free agent, but he really shouldn't be anything more than an NRI.
^^^ Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Corey Smith News:
The Indians were disappointed that Corey Smith, who is being converted into an outfielder, opted not to play winter ball.
Smith, a 2000 first-round pick, just barely received a spot on Cleveland's 40-man roster last winter and he appears to be borderline again this year. The Indians still like his offensive upside, but he hit only .249/.347/.419 and he committed 37 errors in 125 games at third base for Double-A Akron last season. The 22-year-old is not helping himself by failing to get an early start on his position switch.
^^^ Cleveland Plain Dealer

Billy Traber News:
Billy Traber threw all of his pitches in bullpen sessions in the Florida Instructional League, making the Indians more optimistic that he'll be 100 percent in spring training.
Traber has been slow to recover from Tommy John surgery. Neither he nor Brian Tallet is a big part of Cleveland's plans for 2005.
^^^ Cleveland Plain Dealer

Jody Gerut News:
Jody Gerut, who suffered a torn ACL in September, walked down the aisle without the aid of crutches or a brace when he was married yesterday.
The Indians hope to have Gerut back as a part of their outfield in May or June. He won't be guaranteed regular playing time.
^^^ Cleveland Plain Dealer

Albert Pujols News:
Albert Pujols is expected to undergo surgery later this month to take care of the plantar fasciitis in his left foot.
The procedure is intended to clean out the source of irritation to the tendon running along the bottom of the foot and will leave Pujols in a cast for about six weeks. He'll be ready for spring training.
^^^ St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Jason Isringhausen News:
Jason Isringhausen will have surgery Nov. 15 to repair a torn labrum in his left hip.
Isringhausen said that he began experiencing discomfort in the area in 2003 and that the discomfort increased significantly last season. He'll be on crutches for about a week, and he should be fine for the start of spring training.
^^^ St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
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Junior Spivey News:
Brewers GM Doug Melvin plans to keep Junior Spivey and use him at second base next season.
Spivey still could be discussed in trade talks, but since he missed much of the season and there will be cheaper alternatives available, there shouldn't be a lot of interest in him. If Spivey returns, Keith Ginter will probably return to a utility role despite his impressive numbers last season.
^^^ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Shawn Chacon News:
Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd says that keeping Shawn Chacon is an option, and he'd be moved back to the rotation if it happens.
"I like Shawn and haven't ruled out sticking him back in our rotation if we can make it work (financially)," said O'Dowd. "We aren't going to just give him away." He's really only trying to build up the former closer's trade value. There is interest in Chacon, but a lot of teams are figuring he'll be non-tendered.
^^^ Denver Post

Jason Jennings News:
Jason Jennings' agent said he expects talks with the Rockies on a multiyear contract to begin this week.
Jennings is eligible for arbitration for the first time. The two sides will likely talk about a two- or a three-year deal, which wouldn't take care of any years of free agency. Considering that Jennings probably isn't going to be a big winner anytime soon and he's always going to have high ERAs in Coors Field, we don't see why the Rockies wouldn't want to just go year to year with him.
^^^ Denver Post

JJ Hardy News:
If he receives medical clearance, J.J. Hardy could begin playing winter ball in Mexico next week.
Hardy missed most of the season with a separated shoulder and a torn labrum. If he gets off to a fine start in Mexico, the Brewers could consider leaving the shortstop position open for him next year. They'll probably sign at least one veteran to compete with him for the job.
^^^ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Manny Ramirez Pulls Out Of Tokyo Series News:
Manny Ramirez is on his way home from Japan because his left hamstring is bothering him.
"I tried to play through it, but we decided the best thing to do was for me to go home and rest," Ramirez said in a statement. "I feel very bad that I will not be able to finish the trip. I have really enjoyed my time in Japan; the fans and all the people here have been great." Ramirez's hamstrings also gave him problems in July. Probably better to be safe than sorry.
^^^ Boston Globe

Pedro Martinez News:
Still no word from the Pedro camp on Boston's two-year, $25.5 million offer with a $13 million option for 2007 and $2 million in potential performance bonuses. Don't hold your breath, though, the Pedro camp has said all along they'd like to test the free-agent waters. One web site is posting odds on the Pedro derby: Wagerweb.com, an online sports betting site, set the odds on Pedro signing with the following teams: 1. Red Sox 1:3; 2. Yankees 2:1; 3. Mets 3:1; 4. Giants 4:1; 5. Marlins 5:1.
^^^ Boston Globe

Carl Pavano News:
The Boston Herald reported that the Sox already have a meeting lined up with Pavano, who has been offered a three-year, $21 million contract by the Marlins but seems intent on testing the market: "I think the Marlins definitely threw a respectable offer out there, but I'm going to see what else is out there,'' he told the Palm Beach Post.
^^^ Boston Globe

Brad Radke News:
The Red Sox will surely make a pitch for Radke, but the Boston Herald reported Monday that "there appears to be some skepticism about how serious the righty is about playing for any team other than the Minnesota Twins." ... Radke confirmed to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that the Twins have made his a two-year offer. He also said that negotiations were in the early stages and he didn't expect any thing to be finalized soon. One person familiar with negotiations said the Twins' offer was for two years at between $14 million and $19 million. Radke didn't want to get specific, but said that the offer, "was closer to $14 million than $19 million." He added, "I kind of like the two-year deal thing," he said, "but we're just going to have to work on that and see what they throw on. I'm leaning toward the two years than the three years." ... In a chat on Boston.com, ESPN's Peter Gammons predicts that if talks with Pedro become protracted, the Sox may make a hard run at Radke. The Sox "paid Pedro and Lowe $23M this year. They might be able to get Radke and Pavano for a little less, if Pavano will leave Florida." Gammons also mentioned that Radke was Boston's preference, not Pavano.
^^^ Boston Globe

Barry Zito News:
It's no secret Billy Beane is going to try to shop one of his "Big Three," and the Boston Herald surmised that Zito is the one most likely to be dealt. The Herald also reported "the Red Sox are expected to be among the large number of teams who are going to try to strike some sort of deal with A's GM Billy Beane."
^^^ Boston Globe

Alfonso Soriano News:
Could Soriano be wearing pinstripes again soon? Industry sources told the New York Post that if the Yankees don't land Carlos Beltran, they could try to reacquire Soriano from the Rangers as a backup plan and have him play center field.
^^^ Boston Globe

Jon Leiber News:
The Boston Herald reported the Red Sox could get involved in the hunt for Lieber, whose $8 million option for 2005 was turned down by the Yankees. According to the Herald, "the Red Sox were interested in signing the right-hander when he was coming off of elbow surgery a couple of years ago but the Yankees won that battle."
^^^ Boston Globe

Moises Alou News:
Free agent Moises Alou would "love" to play for his father in San Francisco next season.
There's a chance that Alou will become the Giants' right fielder and No. 5 hitter, but it might depend on just how much of a cut in pay he's willing to take. He's not GM Brian Sabean's top priority
^^^ giants.mlb.com

Rocky Biddle News:
Expos released RHP Rocky Biddle.
Biddle underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum last month and isn't very likely to pitch in the majors next season.
^^^ rotoworld.com

Curtis Pride News:
Angels re-signed outfielder Curtis Pride to a minor league contract.
The Angels didn't announce it, but it's safe to assume that he will be invited to spring training to compete for a bench job. He hit .250/.268/.325 in 40 AB while with the team last season.
^^^ rotoworld.com

Chris Clapinski News:
Royals signed infielder Chris Clapinski to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Clapinski, who hit .312/.390/.488 for Triple-A Buffalo last season, is a better player than at least 10-15 guys who win utility roles every year, but at age 33, he's running out of chances. Whether he'll have a chance of making the Royals will be determined by what else the team does this winter.
^^^ rotoworld.com

Royals and Padres Trade:
Royals acquired OF Terrence Long, RHP Dennis Tankersley and cash from the Padres for LHP Darrell May and RHP Ryan Bukvich.
As long as the Royals aren't acquiring Long with the intention of making him an everyday player, this is a decent trade. Both Long and May are entering the last year of their deals, with Long set to make $4.7 million and May $3.2 million. The cash involved probably takes care of some of that difference. Long was OK in a limited role for the Padres last season, and he could remain an adequate fourth outfielder for the Royals. The team still needs to acquire a regular corner outfielder to play alongside David DeJesus and Matt Stairs.
^^^ rotoworld.com
 
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Mike Dejean News:
Mike DeJean's agent spoke with Mets assistant GM Jim Duquette on Friday, and the reliever expects that negotiations will pick up next week.
DeJean likely will re-sign with the Mets. "It's just basically a formality," DeJean said after filing for free agency. "We definitely want to be back. I enjoyed the bullpen. The team has such an upside. There are a lot of positives. Me and [pitching coach] Rick Peterson clicked very well. It's basically a wait-and-see game right now."
^^^ New York Daily News

Corey Koskie News:
The Blue Jays confirmed that they have contacted free agent Corey Koskie's agent.
"Yes, we have some interest in Koskie and we've told his representatives that we're interested," GM J.P. Ricciardi said yesterday. "Koskie's name has come up in a lot in our discussions." The Jays probably won't sign Koskie unless they can find a team willing to take Eric Hinske's contract. They definitely won't agree to terms with him before the Dec. 7 arbitration deadline.
^^^ Tononto Sun

David Wells News:
The Dodgers are showing interest in free agent David Wells, according to a Padres player who is close to the left-hander.
Wells has stated that he intends to play for either the Padres or the Yankees next season, but he has been known to change his mind about these things.
^^^ San Diego Union-Tribune

JJ Hardy News:
Because Brewers minor league manager Frank Kremblas was fired by Navajoa in the Mexican Pacific League, GM Doug Melvin is now leaning toward sending J.J. Hardy to the Dominican Republic for winter ball.
It was expected that Hardy would play for Kremblas in Mexico. "We probably won't send him down there now, if we don't have somebody from our staff to watch him," said Melvin. "We have some staff in the Dominican Republic so we might look there."
^^^ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Troy Percival News:
According to the closer's agent, the Indians are one of nine teams currently in the running for Troy Percival.
Three other teams were looking at Percival as a potential setup man, but he intends to remain a closer. Percival, who figures to be a target of the Cubs and Giants, probably won't sign anytime soon.
^^^ Cleveland Plain Dealer

Carl Pavano News:
Carl Pavano's agent will meet with both the Red Sox and the Yankees within the next couple of days.
The Yankees could have the advantage here since the Red Sox might have to wait for an answer from Pedro Martinez before starting serious negotiations with Pavano. Then again, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing for Boston. Pavano seems likely to be overpaid while coming off his career year.
^^^ New York Daily News

Carlos Delgado News:
Carlos Delgado's agent doubts his client will sign with a new team before the Dec. 7 arbitration deadline.
Several top free agents won't be signed until mid-December because the signing teams won't want to give up draft picks. Players like Carlos Beltran, Adrian Beltre and Jason Varitek are likely to be offered arbitration, but Delgado, Richie Sexson, Magglio Ordonez and Troy Glaus are among those who could come without compensation.
^^^ Tononto Sun

JD Drew News:
Braves GM John Schuerholz will have to work with a 2005 payroll right around the 2004 figure of $82 million.
That's going to make it hard to keep J.D. Drew and Jaret Wright. The team might not even be able to re-sign one of the two. Still, Schuerholz will make a couple of creative moves and manage to put a contending team on the field.
^^^ Atlanta Journal-Constitution

John Smoltz News:
The Braves have had conversations with John Smoltz about a contract extension.
Atlanta might be more open to moving Smoltz into the rotation if he's willing to renegotiate his deal. As is, he'd earn $15 million if he makes 30 starts next season. The Braves might be able to get rid of the $100,000-per-start incentive clause in exchange for adding a year to his contract.
^^^ Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Matt Clement News:
Agent Barry Axelrod said the Diamondbacks have talked to him about Matt Clement and Rich Aurilia.
The Diamondbacks seem certain to sign a veteran shortstop and Aurilia, Royce Clayton and Alex Gonzalez are among the candidates to take Alex Cintron's job. Whether they'll also land a top free agent starting pitcher remains to be seen. They may have to settle for a couple of lesser names
^^^ Arizona Republic

Orlando Cabrera News:
The Boston Herald reported today that contract talks with Cabrera have been closely kept under wraps. In lieu of re-signing the 29-year-old shortstop, the Red Sox have indicated interest in free agent Omar Vizquel, according to the paper. Vizquel hit .291 last season with the Indians and had a .353 on-base percentage.
^^^ Boston Globe

Omar Vizquel News:
The Boston Herald reports today that while contract talks with free agent Orlando Cabrera have been kept under wraps, the Red Sox have indicated interest in free agent Vizquel for a one or two-year deal to lay the groundwork for prospect Hanley Ramirez. Vizquel made $6.25 million last year, when he hit .291 and had a .353 on-base percentage.
^^^ Boston Globe

Randy Johnson News:
The New York Daily News reports today that the Yankees could offer up righthander Javier Vazquez in return for Johnson's services next season. And the White Sox may yet become a serious player. When asked about Johnson coming to Chicago, GM Kenny Williams would only tell the Daily Herald, "If you know me, you know I like to think everyone is attainable." A baseball official with knowledge of last week's Yankees organizational meetings told the Newark Star-Ledger that the team has considered offering Jorge Posada in a possible deal for Johnson or Oakland right-hander Tim Hudson. "It would have to be a major, major deal," the official said. "But Posada does give (the Yankees) some flexibility." ... Meanwhile, the D-Backs said yesterday that they were going to try to keep Johnson: "We'd love to have him stay," said Ken Kendrick, one of the Diamondbacks' controlling owners. "You certainly want to look at the ballclub and make sure we have the right mix of veterans and younger players. And we certainly hope Randy will be among them. Nobody is able to take his place. I think we all know that."
^^^ Boston Globe

Carl Pavano News (continued with Globe):
The New York Daily News today reported that Pavano will become the latest subject in the ongoing feud between the Red Sox and Yankees. Both Theo Epstein and Brian Cashman have meeting set up with Pavano’s agent this week. The Palm Beach Post reports that the Marlins are continuing their discussions.
^^^ Boston Globe
 

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It's pretty safe to say RJ has played his last game in the purple unis.

http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3153816

Thankfully Joe Jr. is the D-Back representative at the GM meetings so when we end up with Javier Vazquez, Jorge Posada and a couple Single-A prospects at least we won't be surprised. :rolleyes:

EDIT - Another rumor has Kevin Brown and cash going to Atlanta for Andruw Jones, whose contract has become an albatross. Atlanta wants to put JD Drew in CF.
 
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Here is the latest from Gammons. Looks like teams are interested in Conor Jackson. Joe G. Jr. said he won't trade him but I would not put it past him. He is an idiot.

By Peter Gammons
Special to ESPN.com
Nov. 10

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. -- And you thought the Steel Wheels tour was long? Or the original Dire Straits Money for Nothing tour? The General Managers Meetings at the Ritz-Carlton here is the first stop on the Scott Boras Money for Something tour, which started with contract length requests and assumptions about the game of baseball being an extension of the Saudi Royal Family that promises that every Christmas tree will be decorated before the majority of his big clients are signed.

If George Steinbrenner doesn't jump off the George Washington Bridge and give Carlos Beltran a ten-year contract in the face of the $82 million he owes Jason Giambi -- and this presumes that the deal is being done for what Boras thinks is best for Beltran, not what Carlos desires -- it may take the threat of Japan or the Northern League (where he could play with the Brothers Drew and Jared Weaver) to get a ten-year commitment from anyone else, unless Washington's Jim Bowden offers Boras another $100 million deal of $1 million a year for 100 years.

Make no mistake. Boras is brilliant, with an unrivalled staff. But take the Jason Varitek negotiations. Five years and a no-trade clause? Jason is a terrific player, better leader and even better person, but he will be 34 the first week of next season, has never knocked in 86 runs or scored 71. Hall of Famer Pudge Rodriguez, who opened the 2003 season at 32 years old, had a two-year (guaranteed), $20 million deal. The only catcher that's 36 with a guaranteed deal is Mike Piazza, and the Mets would like to extricate themselves from that contract. Boras points out that John Henry gave Charles Johnson a five-year contract, but that contract was dumped, and Henry vowed he would never repeat the mistake. Boras says that Larry Lucchino offered Kevin Brown a no-trade clause. "No he and we did not," says Kevin Towers. "[After the '98 season] we offered five years and $50 million, he laughed at us and John Moores threw them out, withdrew the offer and said he'd never deal with them again." Maybe the Dodgers will pull out a three-year offer, but if Boston refuses to wait, goes after Mike Matheny and Troy Glaus, Varitek is at the mercy of the same process that cost him millions because he didn't sign as a college junior with the Twins.

Adrian Beltre, J.D. Drew, Derek Lowe, Magglio Ordonez …

Boras might be right and the game has a lot more money than people think, but will owners spend it? This is a gamble if all players make their choices on cash, not their comfort zones.

The Yankees thus far have been very cool, although there are indications that once teams can speak to free agents from other teams, they will make a pre-emptive strike on Eric Milton and Steve Kline. Then they will look around to try to move Kevin Brown (if the Braves would do Brown-Andruw Jones, it would free up $24.8 million and perhaps allow Atlanta to sign Drew and a pitcher), perhaps shop at second and go for another big pitcher. They certainly will be in the Randy Johnson sweepstakes.

Arizona hasn't talked to Johnson or put him out, but the White Sox have been very aggressive, offering Paul Konerko and Jon Garland. One D-Backs official asked for Aaron Rowand and didn't get a no, but Randy likely will say no to the White Sox, leaving the Yanks, Cardinals and Angels (who are trying to move pitchers' salaries like Ramon Ortiz). Arizona GM Joe Garagiola keeps trying to sign Richie Sexson, with little success.

Boston's two-year, $27.5 million offer to Pedro Martinez was one that showed no disrespect and has little room to be increased. Indications from the Yankees and Angels are that they are not players right now, which leaves Pedro with a dilemma, since he has said that he wants to stay in Boston. The offer will go at any time if the Sox move on, and they are definitely showing interest in Carl Pavano, Brad Radke, Jaret Wright and others. They have made an offer to the A's for Tim Hudson, which didn't work -- yet. It seems as if Orlando Cabrera may be able to get a three- or four-year offer elsewhere in the shortstop world of musical chairs, with Texas, Anaheim and others involved. The Cubs think it will be five to seven weeks before the Nomar Garciaparra market settles and he sees what's out there, so the shortstop market too may be slow to develop.

Billy Beane usually is the aggressor, but he is talking to teams assessing what they offer. For instance, Boston moved for Hudson with Bronson Arroyo and Byung-Hyun Kim, which isn't getting it done. But the Red Sox can go further if they can take a bunch of their best prospects and get Beane players he wants, although Arizona will not trade 1B-OF Conor Jackson, no matter if Boston gives up LHP Jon Lester, whom the Diamondbacks lust after.

David Wells may get done quickly, with the Phillies, Dodgers and Padres in the mix. Philadelphia could use Wells to replace Milton.

The Padres would like to move Ryan Klesko, but his no-trade clause makes it virtually impossible, especially since he will not go to the East Coast. Seattle is interested, but only if the Padres throw in Sean Burroughs and take Scott Spiezio, but San Diego wants to hold onto Burroughs.

Understand: every GM talks to every other team, so a Shawn Green-Mike Piazza gets discussed for a few minutes. Green has a no trade, is 10/5 and may not want to go to the Mets, and that presumes the Dodgers will take Piazza to catch 120-130 games.

Pavano has serious interest in the Red Sox because he wants to pitch with a mentor, and Curt Schilling is a longtime respected comrade. But Pavano is going to give every interested team a visit, including the Red Sox, Orioles, Yankees, Mariners, Tigers, et al. Carl and his agent Scott Shapiro golfed in Florida on Monday with Heathcliff Slocumb -- the man traded for Varitek and Lowe -- and transplanted New Englanders were coming up to Slocumb, hugging and thanking him for being traded for the two postseason heroes. Incidentally, Slocumb is now a very successful real estate developer in the Orlando area.

Tampa Bay is trying to clear salary and shopping SS Julio Lugo, 1B-OF Aubrey Huff, OF Jose Cruz, closer Danys Baez and C Toby Hall. Lugo is a fine player, but his domestic abuse issue in Houston is scaring off teams such as Boston.

Texas has an agreement on a three-year deal with rookie RHP Chris Young, prompted by an offer of a rookie guaranteed deal from the Sacramento Kings for the 6-foot-10 former Princeton star.
 

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