Baseball Guru
10-18-2002, 03:10 PM
By Bob Sherwin
Seattle Times staff reporter
Four teams are now interested in exploring
whether Lou Piniella can be their next
manager, but as time passes without
agreement on compensation, the tensions,
leverage and stakes are rising.
The Mariners have confirmed that a fourth team
contacted them to seek permission to work out
a package, perhaps lengthening a process
some have said already has gone on long
enough.
Two teams, the New York Mets and Tampa
Bay Devil Rays, are known to be interested in
Piniella. Two others, including the latest entry, have requested anonymity.
According to a source, the Baltimore Orioles are the third team. There's
speculation that the Cincinnati Reds are the other one. Both teams have
managers in place and would not want to cause friction if efforts to secure
Piniella fail. Mike Hargrove is the manager for Baltimore and Bob Boone, father
of M's second baseman Bret Boone, has that job in Cincinnati.
The Mets are said to be Piniella's preferred team.
Mariners General Manager Pat Gillick, when asked if either unknown team
would be a surprise, said, "One probably wouldn't be, but one would."
Gillick said the Mariners have given three of the teams a wish list of players
Seattle would like in return for releasing Piniella out of the final year of his
contract. The fourth one still is in the talking stage, he said.
Two unconfirmed reports last night underline the confusion surrounding the
negotiations. A New York radio station, quoting a source, reported that the Mets
would name Piniella today. ESPN reported that the Mariners had turned down
the Mets' compensation offer but hoped for a counter offer.
Pressure may be building to wrap this up today. The commissioner's office does
not want anything to distract from the World Series, which starts tomorrow.
Some believe that Commissioner Bud Selig will demand that the teams work out
a solution before the Series starts.
Piniella is said to be anxious and growing irritable over the indecision. A source
close to him said, "When opportunities come along, you have to take
advantage. You only have so many chances."
Another source said Piniella "is ready to blow a gasket" and questioned whether
it's even appropriate to ask for compensation.
"There are lots of precedents out there," Gillick responded. "Gil Hodges was
traded from the Senators (in 1969 for pitcher Bill Denehy), Manny Sanguillen
was traded from Pittsburgh to Oakland (for Manager Chuck Tanner in 1976).
Dick Williams was traded to the Yankees (in 1973), then had to sit out a year.
Jon Gruden was traded to Tampa Bay (by the Oakland Raiders) for four (high)
draft choices and $8 million. It's not like it hasn't been tried before."
The amiable relationship between Piniella and Mariners officials, so strong a
week ago, appears to have lessened. Piniella will attend a "Celebration of Life"
service Sunday in Peoria, Ariz., for Gary Mack, a close friend and former
Mariners consultant who died a week ago. That will give him an opportunity to
talk with Mariners officials.
The Mets sought an answer quickly, but the reason they did so evaporated
yesterday and could work in the Mariners' favor. The Mets had permission to
talk to Oakland Manager Art Howe, but according to a source, Howe withdrew
his name from consideration yesterday. That might make the Mets more willing
to increase their offer to the Mariners to talk to Piniella.
Regardless, Gillick isn't one to be pressured and said things are on pace.
"I really think from our standpoint and Lou's, things are moving along as quickly
as possible," he said. "Like anything else, there is a negotiation period."
Gillick inadvertently touched off a furor in New England with his comments
Wednesday to the New York Post. He was asked if the Red Sox were involved
and said, "I don't know if it would hurt George (Yankees owner George
Steinbrenner) more if the Mets or Boston got Lou."
He said yesterday that his comment should not be perceived as confirming that
Boston is involved, but the Red Sox scrambled to respond. Interim GM Mike
Port told the paper, "Things could be happening above me." Chief Executive
Officer Larry Lucchino added, "If someone called the Mariners about Lou
Piniella, they haven't told me about it."
No players were revealed on the lists passed to the three teams. The Mets
reportedly won't give up top prospects, such as shortstop Jose Reyes or pitcher
Aaron Heilman. Second baseman Roberto Alomar also reportedly is not
available, and it's doubtful the Mariners would want him.
While the well-financed Mets provide a greater benefit to Piniella, they do not
have the kind of prospects Tampa Bay has. The Devil Rays have an array of
quality players, particularly outfielders, all the way down to Class A.
Cincinnati, where Piniella managed for three seasons and won the 1990 world
championship, is an intriguing possibility. The Reds have another owner, a new
stadium, Ken Griffey Jr., and they were interested in Piniella in 2000 when his
previous contract ended.
The negotiations are being handled above the GM level. Mariners President
Chuck Armstrong is dealing with New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon and Tampa
Bay CEO Vince Naimoli. Presumably, the other two teams' presidents/CEOs
are also working with Armstrong.
"Chuck is very capable of this, whether it's working out a media contract or
negotiating with other teams; he's a quick study," Gillick said. "What we give
him is a position and a fallback position. We want to strike a deal with as many
teams as possible and let him (Piniella) choose. Once we're comfortable, we'll
let Lou pick and choose."
Seattle Times staff reporter
Four teams are now interested in exploring
whether Lou Piniella can be their next
manager, but as time passes without
agreement on compensation, the tensions,
leverage and stakes are rising.
The Mariners have confirmed that a fourth team
contacted them to seek permission to work out
a package, perhaps lengthening a process
some have said already has gone on long
enough.
Two teams, the New York Mets and Tampa
Bay Devil Rays, are known to be interested in
Piniella. Two others, including the latest entry, have requested anonymity.
According to a source, the Baltimore Orioles are the third team. There's
speculation that the Cincinnati Reds are the other one. Both teams have
managers in place and would not want to cause friction if efforts to secure
Piniella fail. Mike Hargrove is the manager for Baltimore and Bob Boone, father
of M's second baseman Bret Boone, has that job in Cincinnati.
The Mets are said to be Piniella's preferred team.
Mariners General Manager Pat Gillick, when asked if either unknown team
would be a surprise, said, "One probably wouldn't be, but one would."
Gillick said the Mariners have given three of the teams a wish list of players
Seattle would like in return for releasing Piniella out of the final year of his
contract. The fourth one still is in the talking stage, he said.
Two unconfirmed reports last night underline the confusion surrounding the
negotiations. A New York radio station, quoting a source, reported that the Mets
would name Piniella today. ESPN reported that the Mariners had turned down
the Mets' compensation offer but hoped for a counter offer.
Pressure may be building to wrap this up today. The commissioner's office does
not want anything to distract from the World Series, which starts tomorrow.
Some believe that Commissioner Bud Selig will demand that the teams work out
a solution before the Series starts.
Piniella is said to be anxious and growing irritable over the indecision. A source
close to him said, "When opportunities come along, you have to take
advantage. You only have so many chances."
Another source said Piniella "is ready to blow a gasket" and questioned whether
it's even appropriate to ask for compensation.
"There are lots of precedents out there," Gillick responded. "Gil Hodges was
traded from the Senators (in 1969 for pitcher Bill Denehy), Manny Sanguillen
was traded from Pittsburgh to Oakland (for Manager Chuck Tanner in 1976).
Dick Williams was traded to the Yankees (in 1973), then had to sit out a year.
Jon Gruden was traded to Tampa Bay (by the Oakland Raiders) for four (high)
draft choices and $8 million. It's not like it hasn't been tried before."
The amiable relationship between Piniella and Mariners officials, so strong a
week ago, appears to have lessened. Piniella will attend a "Celebration of Life"
service Sunday in Peoria, Ariz., for Gary Mack, a close friend and former
Mariners consultant who died a week ago. That will give him an opportunity to
talk with Mariners officials.
The Mets sought an answer quickly, but the reason they did so evaporated
yesterday and could work in the Mariners' favor. The Mets had permission to
talk to Oakland Manager Art Howe, but according to a source, Howe withdrew
his name from consideration yesterday. That might make the Mets more willing
to increase their offer to the Mariners to talk to Piniella.
Regardless, Gillick isn't one to be pressured and said things are on pace.
"I really think from our standpoint and Lou's, things are moving along as quickly
as possible," he said. "Like anything else, there is a negotiation period."
Gillick inadvertently touched off a furor in New England with his comments
Wednesday to the New York Post. He was asked if the Red Sox were involved
and said, "I don't know if it would hurt George (Yankees owner George
Steinbrenner) more if the Mets or Boston got Lou."
He said yesterday that his comment should not be perceived as confirming that
Boston is involved, but the Red Sox scrambled to respond. Interim GM Mike
Port told the paper, "Things could be happening above me." Chief Executive
Officer Larry Lucchino added, "If someone called the Mariners about Lou
Piniella, they haven't told me about it."
No players were revealed on the lists passed to the three teams. The Mets
reportedly won't give up top prospects, such as shortstop Jose Reyes or pitcher
Aaron Heilman. Second baseman Roberto Alomar also reportedly is not
available, and it's doubtful the Mariners would want him.
While the well-financed Mets provide a greater benefit to Piniella, they do not
have the kind of prospects Tampa Bay has. The Devil Rays have an array of
quality players, particularly outfielders, all the way down to Class A.
Cincinnati, where Piniella managed for three seasons and won the 1990 world
championship, is an intriguing possibility. The Reds have another owner, a new
stadium, Ken Griffey Jr., and they were interested in Piniella in 2000 when his
previous contract ended.
The negotiations are being handled above the GM level. Mariners President
Chuck Armstrong is dealing with New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon and Tampa
Bay CEO Vince Naimoli. Presumably, the other two teams' presidents/CEOs
are also working with Armstrong.
"Chuck is very capable of this, whether it's working out a media contract or
negotiating with other teams; he's a quick study," Gillick said. "What we give
him is a position and a fallback position. We want to strike a deal with as many
teams as possible and let him (Piniella) choose. Once we're comfortable, we'll
let Lou pick and choose."