January 31, 200422 yr Then there is Cuban free-agent pitcher Maels Rodriguez. Is he on track to become the latest big-buck Cuban player to sail way under the altitude once predicted for him? When Rodriguez defected, he was ballyhooed as the Cuban Goose Gossage -- a smokeballer with a 100-mph fastball. But he apparently left it in Havana. Rodriguez had to schedule a second workout next week -- because his first workout for American scouts in mid-January was such a disaster. "I've seen this guy a lot," says one scout. "And I've seen him throw a legit 100 miles an hour. So I don't know what was going on. The guy was more like 85-88-89. His arm looked good. Just nothing was coming out of it." Rodriguez has been asking for $20 million over four years. It will be interesting to see if he gets it. And speaking of Cuban free agents, "disaster" would be too upbeat a word to describe Orlando (El Duque) Hernandez's most recent workout for scouts. "He said he was 80 percent," says one scout. "I didn't see that. He didn't throw one ball over 78 miles an hour, and he looked very restricted." More free-agent rumblings: The Marlins have interest in Andres Galarraga or Wil Cordero as a backup first baseman and bat off the bench. ... All-Star Free Agent Team: 1B: Fred McGriff 2B: Keith Lockhart SS: Jeff Reboulet 3B: Ron Coomer LF: Rickey Henderson CF: Eric Owens RF: Raul Mondesi C: Chad Krueter DH: Ellis Burks Starting rotation: Greg Maddux, Orlando Hernandez, John Burkett, Chuck Finley, Andy Ashby. Bullpen: Ugueth Urbina, Antonio Osuna, Mark Guthrie, Ron Villone, Graeme Lloyd, Rudy Seanez. Bats off the bench: Eric Karros, Andres Galarraga, Mark McLemore, Travis Lee, Wil Cordero, John Mabry, Orlando Merced, Chris Richard. Baseball America coverboy reunion: Ruben Rivera, Jackson Melian, Patrick Lennon, Mike Kelly, Todd Dunwoody. Manager: Jeff Torborg General manager: Steve Phillips Spring training stadium: Jack Russell Stadium (Clearwater, Fla.) Pudge Rodriguez Rumblings Pudge Rodriguez is making history again. But according to friends who have spoken with him recently, he didn't want to make this kind of history. Pudge, the reigning NLCS MVP, is one of 101 official LCS or World Series MVPs. Loyal reader David Hallstrom reports that he's only the eighth to change teams the next winter, just the third to willingly sign with a team coming off a losing season and only the second to sign with a last-place team. But there's a big difference between him and the other MVP to go from penthouse to outhouse. That was Ray Knight, the '86 World Series MVP who went to an Orioles team coming off its first losing season in 19 years. Those Orioles had finished just 16 games under .500. So it's a long elevator ride down from there to the 2003 Tigers. The Tigers, as if we needed to remind anybody, landed slightly south of that last year -- like around Nicaragua. They were 76 games under. But at one time they were 80 games under .500 -- which would equal how many games below sea level all of Rodriguez's teams finished in his six previous losing seasons combined. So no wonder he has been telling friends that he's still heartbroken over not re-signing in Florida and that he's taking the Tigers' offer simply because it's the only one out there in the price range he'd set. It's amazing what some guys will give up for money -- such as happiness. Here's the complete list of postseason MVPs to change teams the following winter: 1986 WS MVP Ray Knight signed with Baltimore (73-89, last place). 1991 WS MVP Jack Morris signed with Toronto (91-71, 1st). 1996 WS MVP John Wetteland signed with Texas (90-72, 1st). 1997 ALCS MVP Marquis Grissom traded to Milwaukee NL (78-83, 3rd). 1998 ALCS MVP David Wells traded to Toronto (88-74, 3rd). 1995 NLCS MVP Mike Devereaux signed with Baltimore (71-73, 3rd). 2000 NLCS MVP 2000 Mike Hampton signed agent with Colorado (82-80, 4th). Meanwhile, an official of a club which, at one point, had some interest in Rodriguez says he believes Pudge actually made an attempt to feel out the union on the legality of a rumor we reported in the last Rumblings -- that he might sign with an unspecified team and then have that team trade him back to Florida. That seems to violate the intent of the rule barring the Marlins from re-signing him before May 1. But the scuttlebutt was that, as long as the Marlins didn't negotiate with Rodriguez and agent Scott Boras before May 1 (the other team would) and Rodriguez then waived the clause prohibiting him from being traded before June 15, it might fly if nobody complained. But as one baseball man with longtime involvement in Basic Agreement principles puts it, "I can't imagine that happening with this prominent a player and somebody not complaining about it." Boras has tried driving a Hummer through many a potential loophole in the past. But even he didn't risk this one. One thing that apparently held up an announcement of Rodriguez's Detroit contract for a couple of days was a question about the legality of the clause which could void the contract after two years if Rodriguez has lower-back problems. It's believed the Tigers were concerned enough about a clause that unusual that they took pains to make sure the language was acceptable to both the union and the commissioner's office. Most contracts with clauses like that are announced as shorter deals, with option years that would vest if the player stays off the disabled list. But Boras clearly wanted to be able to announce this one as a four-year deal, even though, in reality, only two years are guaranteed. Legal or not, however, some agents aren't happy about the inclusion of any clause that could void a contract of this magnitude. For one thing, Rodriguez had no back issues whatsoever last season. For a second, they worry that this might actually be the opposite of an incentive clause -- it's a potential disincentive clause. If Rodriguez feels any type of back twinge under this sort of arrangement, is it in his best interests to serve his team by playing with pain -- or to sit out a few days to make sure his contract isn't voided? Fascinating question.
January 31, 200422 yr "How mercenary can a guy look? It looks like he's willing to go from a World Series winner to a team (Detroit) that lost 119 games last year. Why? Money, just money." ? A general manager, in the Washington Post, on free agent C Ivan Rodriguez :laugh -from the tigers website
January 31, 200422 yr I believe I wrote weeks ago that MRod was gassed and couldn't throw 90 anymore, nevermind a hundred miles an hour. Betting $20 million that he'll ever pitch in the MLs is a bad bet and one neither the Marlins nor any other MLB team should take. I respect Andres G and his contribution to baseball but like Ricky, his days are gone. Better the two of them get a card game going at the retirement home than they take up a spot on someone's 25 man roster.
January 31, 200422 yr I luv the big cat. :deal :notworthy ever since his days in colorado. man i would love this guy back but sadly he is getting old and the marlins probably like cordero more. Also i think we should go after eric owens. screw that nunez guy. :mischief2 :marlins :cheers
January 31, 200422 yr "How mercenary can a guy look? It looks like he's willing to go from a World Series winner to a team (Detroit) that lost 119 games last year. Why? Money, just money." ? A general manager, in the Washington Post, on free agent C Ivan Rodriguez Quote of the year nominee. That is just excellent stuff right there.
January 31, 200422 yr I respect Andres G and his contribution to baseball but like Ricky, his days are gone. Better the two of them get a card game going at the retirement home than they take up a spot on someone's 25 man roster. Andres was very productive for San Fran last year. Let him leave on his own terms.
January 31, 200422 yr That seat that Gallaraga crushed in the upper deck of joe robbie is still broken...
January 31, 200422 yr I'm surprised Eric Karros' name hasn't been mentioned when they talk about players the marlins are interested in. Cordero would be a fine pickup, but if that doesn't happen (I don't know if the marlins are worried about his legal troubles), then Karros would be the perfect fit and the best available player for what we are looking for.
January 31, 200422 yr I thought Mondesi was signed. shocking that you would be wrong in a post. Mondesi is still out there. Amazing how you missed it. :hat The champ
January 31, 200422 yr I wanna see the marlins go after wil cordero and/or eric owens.... why do you want EBO so bad?
January 31, 200422 yr Karros is signed already i think,he got signed today,and i like ebo because he's awesome,and he gives up his body just to get a ball/win a game.
January 31, 200422 yr Eric Karros appears set to sign a one-year, $1 million contract with the A's. Karros would likely start at first base against left-handers for the A's. Erubiel Durazo hit southpaws well last season, so it's Scott Hatteberg that should be platooned initially. Source: Los Angeles Times
February 1, 200422 yr Why screw Abraham Nunez? He's gonna be much better than Owens right now. Sooner or later the Fish have to make a decision about the guy and I'd like to see him come into spring training, play lights out and then trade him somewhere he gets a chance to play everyday or at the very least platoons regularly. He won't do us any good on the bench (that's not his strength) especially if we sign Cordero, and with Banks pretty much penciled in at about the same money, his best chance is to catch on elsewhere. It's either that or another season with the 'Topes. (In no way were the above comments meant to suggest I endorse signing Owens.)
February 1, 200422 yr I thought Mondesi was signed. shocking that you would be wrong in a post. Mondesi is still out there. Amazing how you missed it. :hat The champ WTF is with some spiteful jerks in this world? Go away chump, go piss off the guy who didn't know mclemore was signed.
February 1, 200422 yr Why screw Abraham Nunez? He's gonna be much better than Owens right now. Abe did very well in the domincian.
February 1, 200422 yr I thought Mondesi was signed. shocking that you would be wrong in a post. Mondesi is still out there. Amazing how you missed it. :hat The champ WTF is with some spiteful jerks in this world? Go away chump, go piss off the guy who didn't know mclemore was signed. I'll assume you're talking about me, and I did say I thought McLemore was signed.
February 1, 200422 yr Why screw Abraham Nunez? He's gonna be much better than Owens right now. Sooner or later the Fish have to make a decision about the guy and I'd like to see him come into spring training, play lights out and then trade him somewhere he gets a chance to play everyday or at the very least platoons regularly. He won't do us any good on the bench (that's not his strength) especially if we sign Cordero, and with Banks pretty much penciled in at about the same money, his best chance is to catch on elsewhere. It's either that or another season with the 'Topes. (In no way were the above comments meant to suggest I endorse signing Owens.) Trade him to the reds.....
February 1, 200422 yr I think we should all agree to pretend this guy doesnt exist. It will make our lives easier and he will stop getting the attention he craves.
February 1, 200422 yr I know....he still hasn't responded to any of the threads where he was proved wrong....I guess he just likes to ignore them. And this surprises you? lolol and BTW I believe he is a she.
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