amag
11-19-2002, 06:22 PM
The Cardinals and free agent pitcher Woody Williams have intensified negotiations on a guaranteed two-year contract with an option for 2005 while the club apparently has rejected the Florida Marlins' invitation to get involved in a three-team trade for Colorado Rockies lefthander Mike Hampton.
Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty has spoken repeatedly with Williams and his agent, Barry Meister, with resulting "positive momentum," according to a source.
There is a connection between Williams' return to St. Louis and the Cardinals' potential pursuit of Hampton. Jocketty confirmed being contacted by the Florida Marlins in the last week but insisted talks have not progressed. The Rockies and Marlins reportedly have agreed to a six-player trade that would send Hampton to the Marlins with the understanding that the pitcher would then be moved to another, contending team. A 72-hour window to negotiate a deal expires today.
The Cardinals have moved closer to Williams' demand that he not take a cut from last season's $6.25 million salary, but the contract's structure remains a hurdle, according to sources familiar with the talks.
Because of Williams' two trips to the disabled list last season and his age, 36, the club is seeking to guarantee only a portion of the contract as well as deferring payments beyond 2004. Williams earlier voiced dissatisfaction with an incentive- laden deal, saying team doctors gave him a clean bill of health after the postseason.
"We will talk again (today) to get closer to making the numbers work for both sides," Jocketty said Friday night. "They're showing a willingness to work with us."
A faction of the Cardinals' front office, meanwhile, is fascinated with Hampton, whose career has fallen into disarray since he signed an eight-year, $121 million contract with the Rockies in 2000. Some within the organization believe Hampton could experience the same revival that occurred with Darryl Kile once he arrived in a 1999 trade from Colorado. However, Hampton's leftover contract makes him a more expensive commodity who necessitates a longer commitment than fellow lefthanded free agent pitcher, Tom Glavine, who is weighing a three-year, $31 million offer from the New York Mets. The Cardinals have not made an offer to the two-time Cy Young Award winner.
Jocketty, however, reiterated that Williams is the team's current priority, a point the player questioned barely a week ago when voicing frustration over the lagging pace of negotiations.
"It's next to impossible to comment on anything like (Hampton's availability) until we know how much it takes to keep Woody," Jocketty said. "Now's not a great time."
More bluntly, one high-ranking Cardinals official said Friday: "I don't see how we can go after Hampton. We don't know how much he costs."
The same source said the club would be interested in how much could be "shaved" from Hampton's contract by the Rockies and perhaps the second team involved.
Hampton's contract is one of the most elaborate in the game. He is owed $84.5 million in salary through 2009 in addition to $19 million of a $21 million signing bonus. While not uncommon for clubs to assume the signing bonus when trading a player, Hampton's salary alone makes him unwieldy for most teams. Hampton has reportedly consented to restructure his contract to facilitate a trade.
Since joining the Rockies Hampton is 21-28 with a 5.75 ERA, including a 7-15 mark and 6.15 ERA in 2002. His ERA was the highest of any pitcher who qualified for the ERA title (162 innings).
The Cardinals desperately need to obtain at least two starting pitchers and they still hope to retain righthander Chuck Finley, another of their seven free agent pitchers.
Finley recently severed ties with agent Tim Shannon and has notified the Cardinals that he is now represented by Alan Hendricks. Previously willing to wait on talks, Finley may be ready to assume a more aggressive posture.
Jocketty expects to meet with another Cardinals free agent pitcher, Andy Benes, in the next week.
Benes said earlier this month that he does not plan to pitch anywhere except St. Louis.
Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty has spoken repeatedly with Williams and his agent, Barry Meister, with resulting "positive momentum," according to a source.
There is a connection between Williams' return to St. Louis and the Cardinals' potential pursuit of Hampton. Jocketty confirmed being contacted by the Florida Marlins in the last week but insisted talks have not progressed. The Rockies and Marlins reportedly have agreed to a six-player trade that would send Hampton to the Marlins with the understanding that the pitcher would then be moved to another, contending team. A 72-hour window to negotiate a deal expires today.
The Cardinals have moved closer to Williams' demand that he not take a cut from last season's $6.25 million salary, but the contract's structure remains a hurdle, according to sources familiar with the talks.
Because of Williams' two trips to the disabled list last season and his age, 36, the club is seeking to guarantee only a portion of the contract as well as deferring payments beyond 2004. Williams earlier voiced dissatisfaction with an incentive- laden deal, saying team doctors gave him a clean bill of health after the postseason.
"We will talk again (today) to get closer to making the numbers work for both sides," Jocketty said Friday night. "They're showing a willingness to work with us."
A faction of the Cardinals' front office, meanwhile, is fascinated with Hampton, whose career has fallen into disarray since he signed an eight-year, $121 million contract with the Rockies in 2000. Some within the organization believe Hampton could experience the same revival that occurred with Darryl Kile once he arrived in a 1999 trade from Colorado. However, Hampton's leftover contract makes him a more expensive commodity who necessitates a longer commitment than fellow lefthanded free agent pitcher, Tom Glavine, who is weighing a three-year, $31 million offer from the New York Mets. The Cardinals have not made an offer to the two-time Cy Young Award winner.
Jocketty, however, reiterated that Williams is the team's current priority, a point the player questioned barely a week ago when voicing frustration over the lagging pace of negotiations.
"It's next to impossible to comment on anything like (Hampton's availability) until we know how much it takes to keep Woody," Jocketty said. "Now's not a great time."
More bluntly, one high-ranking Cardinals official said Friday: "I don't see how we can go after Hampton. We don't know how much he costs."
The same source said the club would be interested in how much could be "shaved" from Hampton's contract by the Rockies and perhaps the second team involved.
Hampton's contract is one of the most elaborate in the game. He is owed $84.5 million in salary through 2009 in addition to $19 million of a $21 million signing bonus. While not uncommon for clubs to assume the signing bonus when trading a player, Hampton's salary alone makes him unwieldy for most teams. Hampton has reportedly consented to restructure his contract to facilitate a trade.
Since joining the Rockies Hampton is 21-28 with a 5.75 ERA, including a 7-15 mark and 6.15 ERA in 2002. His ERA was the highest of any pitcher who qualified for the ERA title (162 innings).
The Cardinals desperately need to obtain at least two starting pitchers and they still hope to retain righthander Chuck Finley, another of their seven free agent pitchers.
Finley recently severed ties with agent Tim Shannon and has notified the Cardinals that he is now represented by Alan Hendricks. Previously willing to wait on talks, Finley may be ready to assume a more aggressive posture.
Jocketty expects to meet with another Cardinals free agent pitcher, Andy Benes, in the next week.
Benes said earlier this month that he does not plan to pitch anywhere except St. Louis.