Posted on Mon, Nov. 13, 2006

 

 

 

Baseball GMs gather in Fla. for meetings

 

RONALD BLUM

Associated Press

 

NEW YORK - With the free-agent market open for business, major league general managers gathered in Naples, Fla., for their annual meetings.

 

Aramis Ramirez decided not to pursue the free-agent market, agreeing Sunday to a five-year, $73 million contract that keeps the third baseman with the Chicago Cubs.

 

On the first day free agents could negotiate money with all 30 teams, oft-injured pitcher Kerry Wood also opted to stay with the Cubs, agreeing to a one-year, $1.75 million deal that could be worth up to $6 million.

 

And the New York Yankees made their second trade in three days, sending Jaret Wright to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday for right-handed reliever Chris Britton. As part of the deal, the Yankees will pay $4 million of Wright's $7 million salary next year.

 

Several major agents also planned to attend the GMs gathering, which start Monday. Top free agents Alfonso Soriano, Barry Zito, Barry Bonds, Carlos Lee and Jason Schmidt are likely to take time to weigh their choices, so the early November sessions are traditionally a lot more talk than action.

 

Alex Rodriguez is sure to be mentioned in trade rumors all offseason, and perhaps the annual Manny Ramirez speculation will start up once one again.

 

But this much already is clear: It's been usually busy early this offseason. San Diego and Cleveland started things off last week, with the Padres dealing second baseman Josh Barfield to the Indians last week for infielder Kevin Kouzmanoff and right-hander Andrew Brown. Then the Yankees sent right fielder Gary Sheffield to Detroit on Friday for three pitching prospects.

 

Two Japanese players will make news during the meetings.

 

The Seibu Lions of the Pacific League must decide by Tuesday whether to accept the high bid for 26-year-old right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Boston Red Sox, Yankees, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers were thought to be among the bidders, but the identity of the club that made the high bid won't be announced until after the Lions accept the figure.

 

And the Yakult Swallows of Japan's Central League have until Thursday to accept the high offer for Akinori Iwamura, a 27-year-old third baseman who has five Gold Gloves in Japan.

 

Ramirez, acquired by the Cubs from the Pittsburgh Pirates midway through the 2003 season, had opted out of the final two seasons of a four-year, $42 million contract and filed for free agency on Oct. 30. His new deal contains a mutual option for 2012.

 

"He proved to Chicago that when you leave $20 million or $30 million on the table, it's where you want to go," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "Both sides gave a little bit at the end."

 

Ramirez set career highs last season for homers (38) and RBIs (119) and batted .291, thanks to a strong finish.

 

"When we spoke at the end of the year, I felt like he wanted to be back here," Hendry said. "Not only does he like it here, he has the faith we will get better."

 

Wood, the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year, has been bothered by arm problems throughout his career. He made just four starts last season, has been rehabbing a torn rotator cuff and will be shifted to the bullpen.

 

New York had until Sunday to opt out of Wright's contract, a move that also would have cost the Yankees a $4 million buyout. Wright, a right-hander who turns 31 on Dec. 29, will be reunited with pitching coach Leo Mazzone. When the pair were with the Atlanta Braves in 2004, Wright went 15-8 with a 3.28 ERA.

 

"I think the primary factor is his relationship with Leo back in his Atlanta days," Orioles vice president Jim Duquette said. "He costs us $3 million. When you look at the free-agent market and consider what it would cost for a guy like this, it's a great move for us."

 

After agreeing to a three-year, $21 million contract, Wright had a pair of disappointing seasons with the Yankees. He injured a shoulder early in the 2005 season and was 5-5 with a 6.08 ERA in 13 starts, then went 11-7 with a 4.49 ERA this year, not pitching more than 6 1-3 innings in any of his 27 starts.

 

"Our feeling is the injuries are behind him," Duquette said.

 

Britton, who turns 24 on Dec. 16, made his major league debut last season and was 0-2 with one save and a 3.35 ERA in 52 relief appearances with the Orioles while holding batters to a .228 average.

 

 

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GM Meetings under way in Naples

Rule changes will be discussed, rumors will be rampant

By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com

 

Omar Minaya is a candidate for The Sporting News Executive of the Year, to be awarded Monday. (LM Otero/AP)

MLB Headlines

 

NAPLES, Fla. -- General managers and their assistants from each of the 30 Major League clubs gathered here on Monday morning for their annual meetings, which will be ongoing for the next four days.

Though the GMs will study rule changes, including again the limited use of instant replay to help umpires on home run calls, the fact that the free agent signing period began on Sunday should make this a very interesting week.

 

Already on Sunday, the Cubs retained a pair of their own free agents -- third baseman Aramis Ramirez and pitcher Kerry Wood.

 

"I have to keep up with the Cardinals," said Cubs GM Jim Hendry in the lobby of the Naples Grand Resort on Monday, referring to the defending World Series champs and his chief rival in the National League Central. "At least as far as spending money."

 

The fact that the Cubs spent $73 million over five years to retain Ramirez sent ripples through the baseball cognoscenti, who now wonder what a player like Alfonso Soriano is worth on the open market. Two years ago, Carlos Beltran was signed by the Mets for $119 million over seven seasons and with a new labor deal signed through 2011 and television contracts generating $7 billion a year through 2013, Soriano could easily receive that kind of money.

 

On tap on Monday is an expected 8 p.m. ET announcement out of Japan whether the Seibu Lions have accepted the bid of a Major League club to sign top pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. MLB accepted bids last week that could be in anywhere from the $20 million to $50 million range. If Seibu turns down the bid, Matsuzaka must return to Japan next season. If they accept it, an MLB team must negotiate a contract with the pitcher in the next 30 days.

 

On Monday night as well, The Sporting News is expected to announce its Executive of the Year at a dinner honoring the award winner. Top candidates should be Dave Dombrowski of the American League champion Tigers, Walt Jocketty of the Cardinals, Omar Minaya of the NL East-winning Mets and Billy Beane, whose A's were swept in the AL Championship Series by the Tigers.

 

 

 

Complete coverage >

The vote is taken at the end of the regular season and didn't take into account playoff success. Last year's decision was controversial -- Cleveland's Mark Shapiro won over the White Sox's Kenny Williams, even though Chicago captured its first World Series in 88 years.

 

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Hot Stove: GMs all set to go batty

Soriano leads field as run producers prove valuable

By Jim Street / MLB.com

 

Carlos Lee is a target of several NL teams looking to add his run production to the lineup. (Steve Nesius/AP)

MLB Headlines

 

There's more than one burner heating up on the Hot Stove circuit.

With the Daisuke Matsuzaka sweepstakes entering the final hours, it's time to put a little more focus on some of the hitters that could change addresses between now and the start of Spring Training.

 

The old adage "pitching and defense wins championships" still has merit, but the pitching-rich Detroit Tigers still fell three wins short of a World Series championship, largely because their hitters had a collective collapse in the Fall Classic.

 

So the importance of having run-producers in the lineup becomes even more magnified as Major League organizations adjust their rosters during the offseason.

 

Every general manager in the business would like to find the "steal deal" of the year comparable to the one Oakland Athletics GM Billy Beane pulled out of the hat last year when he signed free agent Frank Thomas to a one-year contract that had a $500,000 base salary.

 

The Big Hurt damaged opposing pitchers with 39 home runs and 114 RBIs and added $2.6 million in incentive bonuses while helping the A's capture the AL West title and advance to the AL Championship Series.

 

Beane was hoping to re-sign Thomas before the free-agent signing period began on Sunday, reportedly offering him a two-year contract, but Thomas is back on the market -- and with plenty of company.

 

A list of available free agent hitters that already featured Alfonso Soriano, the first 40-40-40 player in Major League history -- 46 home runs, 41 doubles and 41 stolen bases for the Washington Nationals -- now includes J.D. Drew. The outfielder last week opted out of the final three years of the five-year, $55 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

 

Soriano, meanwhile, is looking to cash in on a career season and reportedly is seeking a five-year deal worth at least $80 million.

 

 

 

Complete coverage >

The Philadelphia Phillies appear to be the most aggressive organization pursuing Soriano. The Philadelphia Daily News reported on Monday that an offer, believed to be for five years and $73 million, has been made.

 

As of Monday, the market value for an established hitter remains a bit murky, even after the Chicago Cubs re-signed third baseman Aramis Ramirez on Sunday. Ramirez, who opted out of the final two years of a contract he previously signed with the Cubs, received a five-year, $73 million contract.

 

The latest deal does not include an opt-out clause and was considered to be a "hometown discount."

 

Elsewhere on the Hot Stove League hitter's burner:

 

Luis Gonzalez: A report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said the World Series champs are closing in on a one-year contract with the outfielder. That would be somewhat of a surprise as Gonzalez has been saying he would prefer signing with na NL West team so he could stay close to his Arizona-based family, which includes triplets.

 

J.D. Drew: The veteran outfielder (or his agent) is rolling the dice, banking on another MLB organization ponying up more than the $33 million (guaranteed) Drew left on the table by opting out of his contract with the Dodgers. The Red Sox, Cubs and Padres have been mentioned as potential suitors.

 

Gary Matthews Jr.: The 32-year-old late bloomer has drawn considerable interest from teams in both leagues. The Rangers want him back, but the Angels and White Sox have him targeted for their outfield, as do the Giants, Dodgers, Cubs and Astros. Matthews Jr. picked a fine time to have a career year -- .313 batting average, 19 home runs and 79 RBIs -- and his first All-Star Game invitation.

 

Nomar Garciaparra: The Dodgers still appear to have the edge on re-signing the veteran, but the great Northwest could become a factor. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported on Monday that Garciaparra might be open to becoming the Mariners' full-time designated hitter, citing the fact his younger brother, Michael, plays in the Seattle farm system.

 

Trot Nixon: With Drew on the market and the Red Sox reportedly among the teams interested in pursuing the former Dodgers outfielder, Nixon's future in Red Sox Nation could be in even more jeopardy. Injuries limited him to 114 games last season, and if he returned in '07, it would be as a reserve and for less than the $7.5 million he made in '06.

 

Juan Pierre: As much as the Cubs would like to bring the leadoff batter back to the Windy City, the Brewers are being mentioned as a potential future home for the speedster who would rather reach on a hit than a walk and who posesses a noodle of a throwing arm.

 

Julio Lugo: The Blue Jays have been doing less shopping than a year ago, but a report in the Toronto Globe and Mail said GM J.P. Ricciardi has some interest in signing Lugo and giving him a shot to play shortstop on a regular basis.

 

Carlos Lee: After less than half-a-season in the AL with the Rangers, it could be back to the Senior Circuit for the outfielder, who played for the Brewers in 2005 and half of the '06 season. The Astros and Cubs seem to be the most interested, hoping to make room for a player that has averaged 31 home runs and 104 RBIs the past five seasons.

 

Dave Roberts: At last count, at least 12 organizations have contacted the leadoff hitter's agent. A multi-year contract is definitely in Roberts' future.

 

Akinori Iwamura: Best known best as a slick fielder, the five-time Gold Glove winner from Japan reportedly has drawn interest from the Padres, Devil Rays, Red Sox and Phillies. The Yakult Swallows have until Thursday to accept or reject the highest bid submitted by MLB organizations. Iwamura, 27, batted .311 with 32 home runs and 77 RBIs this past season.