redsoxfan45
01-23-2002, 04:57 PM
Rich ``El Guapo'' Garces asked to be traded yesterday.
Upset with the Red Sox for not following through on their assurance to ink him to a long-term deal and dreading the prospect of going through the arbitration process for the third year in a row, the reliever decided that asking out now makes the most sense.
``We've been fighting the same way for three years - it's like I haven't done anything for the team these last few years,'' said Garces from his home in Maracay, Venezuela. ``Every year it's the same thing - arbitration. You never know, I might have to go to Australia or Africa this year for a hearing. It was Phoenix last year and everyone laughed about it, but I don't think it was funny. I've proven every year I can get anyone in the major leagues out.
``I deserve something better, because I can do my job. I don't deserve to go to arbitration again. It's like I'm a bad person but I'm just asking for what I deserve. I'm going to be 31 years old, and it's still the same (expletive) every year.''
Garces insisted his decision is about money - not the team or the town.
``It's not about Boston - since I've been there, I've never been happier,'' said Garces, who is 19-3 with a 3.11 ERA over his last three seasons. ``It's not about the team, either. I want to do something for my girls, for my family, so that in five or six years I can retire and I can be fine and not worry.''
Garces' agent, Scott Siegel, said that he informed Red Sox assistant general manager Mike Port yesterday morning about the right-hander's decision after the club said it had no interest in signing Garces to a long-term contract.
Garces, who claims to have shed 35 pounds this offseason, did say that he would consider withdrawing his request if the sides agree to a one-year deal for ``good money.''
Garces and the Red Sox are scheduled to have an arbitration hearing on Feb. 7. Garces is asking for $2.6 million a year, while the Sox counter at $1.8 million.
Upset with the Red Sox for not following through on their assurance to ink him to a long-term deal and dreading the prospect of going through the arbitration process for the third year in a row, the reliever decided that asking out now makes the most sense.
``We've been fighting the same way for three years - it's like I haven't done anything for the team these last few years,'' said Garces from his home in Maracay, Venezuela. ``Every year it's the same thing - arbitration. You never know, I might have to go to Australia or Africa this year for a hearing. It was Phoenix last year and everyone laughed about it, but I don't think it was funny. I've proven every year I can get anyone in the major leagues out.
``I deserve something better, because I can do my job. I don't deserve to go to arbitration again. It's like I'm a bad person but I'm just asking for what I deserve. I'm going to be 31 years old, and it's still the same (expletive) every year.''
Garces insisted his decision is about money - not the team or the town.
``It's not about Boston - since I've been there, I've never been happier,'' said Garces, who is 19-3 with a 3.11 ERA over his last three seasons. ``It's not about the team, either. I want to do something for my girls, for my family, so that in five or six years I can retire and I can be fine and not worry.''
Garces' agent, Scott Siegel, said that he informed Red Sox assistant general manager Mike Port yesterday morning about the right-hander's decision after the club said it had no interest in signing Garces to a long-term contract.
Garces, who claims to have shed 35 pounds this offseason, did say that he would consider withdrawing his request if the sides agree to a one-year deal for ``good money.''
Garces and the Red Sox are scheduled to have an arbitration hearing on Feb. 7. Garces is asking for $2.6 million a year, while the Sox counter at $1.8 million.