Ugueth Urbina pitched in the Tokyo Dome as a member of the Venezuelan national junior team at age 15, and enjoyed the experience so much that he talked wistfully about finishing his professional career in Japan.

 

He just never figured it would happen at age 30.

 

Alex Rodriguez changed positions to get what he wanted. That's not an option for Urbina, so he's thinking about changing hemispheres. His agent, Peter Greenberg, is in the middle of talks that could lead to Urbina pitching for a Japanese League club in 2004.

 

"We've had contact with some teams over there, and there's interest," said Greenberg, who declined to identify which teams are pursuing Urbina. "If he goes to Japan, there's a pretty good chance he's never coming back."

 

One likely contender for Urbina is the Tokyo Giants, who might be in the best position to afford him. Last year the Giants signed Roberto Petagine, another Greenberg client, to a two-year, $16 million contract. The $8 million annual value is the highest ever for a Japanese League deal.

 

 

Ugueth Urbina brought stability to Florida's bullpen last season.

Urbina, 29th on baseball's career list with 206 saves, is coming off an exceptional 2003 season with Texas and Florida. He converted 32 of 38 save opportunities, averaged 9.12 strikeouts per nine innings and held opponents to a .204 batting average. He continues to get results even though his fastball isn't what it used to be.

 

In October, Urbina saved four games, pitched 13 innings and kissed catcher Pudge Rodriguez routinely in celebration of victories on the way to Florida's World Championship. They were the Madonna and Britney Spears of baseball batteries.

 

But Urbina's expectations didn't jibe with his reception from clubs. He pushed for a three-year contract and held firm even as teams began dropping off the board. He since relented and made it known he'd take two years -- or possibly one with the right club. But Urbina refused to take a cut from his 2003 salary of $4.5 million. That's understandable, considering he'd already been whacked from $6.7 million in 2002.

 

While Montreal, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Toronto expressed varying degrees of interest in Urbina during the offseason, San Francisco and Minnesota are the teams mentioned most prominently in Urbina speculation at the moment.

 

The Giants are still waiting to see if Robb Nen can come back from three arm surgeries, and manager Felipe Alou knows Urbina from their time together in Montreal. The Twins, who lost Eddie Guardado and LaTroy Hawkins to free agency, will probably go with Joe Nathan as their closer.

 

The biggest impediment to Urbina signing with either club is, naturally, money. Minnesota general manager Terry Ryan and San Francisco GM Brian Sabean both have said Urbina looks to be outside their price range. "We're not even on the same page," Sabean told the San Francisco Chronicle last week.

 

Greenberg said he's had no conversations with Florida about Urbina rejoining the Marlins on May 1, the earliest he's allowed to sign there under major-league rules. Besides, the Marlins already have filled their closer void with Armando Benitez.

 

For Urbina, that leaves pitching in Japan or having a sudden change of heart and dropping his asking price. Don't count on it.

 

Greenberg said Urbina is set financially with multiple real estate investments and was never bluffing when he said he'd retire rather than accept a substandard offer.

 

"He has too much pride to take another pay cut," Greenberg said. "I've been telling people that he's serious. He's not one of these guys who's nervous and calls you every night because he needs an update of what's going on. He's a pretty strong-willed guy. That's probably why he's such a good closer."

Sayonara Ug

good luck UUU. You were urbinarific.

Have fun UUU, make your fans proud. :thumbup

him and bobby valentine

 

what a combo

He really needs to wake up. I'd take $4.5 mil in a heartbeat.

That's too bad, I liked watching him pitch, he's an exciting player.

 

I'll never forget game 3 of the NLDS, and the whole crowd chanting UGIE UGIE UGIE - good times.

That's too bad, I liked watching him pitch, he's an exciting player.

 

I'll never forget game 3 of the NLDS, and the whole crowd chanting UGIE UGIE UGIE - good times.

Oh yeah! I went to that game and sat right behind the Marlins dugout! Good times, good times...