GaryMrMets
12-13-2004, 01:45 AM
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/13/sports/baseball/13yankees.html?oref=login&oref=login
For Minaya, Lots of Wheeling, Not Much Dealing
By TYLER KEPNER
Published: December 13, 2004
ANAHEIM, Calif., Dec. 12 - When Omar Minaya was the general manager of the Expos, most of his major moves had to wait until January, when he could sort through baseball's bargain bins. "Maybe that's still in me," Minaya said Sunday.
Minaya is now the Mets' general manager, but with the winter meetings ending Monday, he has still not implemented his plans. He is prepared to leave without making a deal, with the slugging first basemen Carlos Delgado and Richie Sexson seemingly slipping away.
"I don't feel there's a rush to do something, just for the sake of going up to the podium to make an announcement," Minaya said.
The Yankees also expect to leave without an announcement, General Manager Brian Cashman said, even though starter Carl Pavano has decided to play for them for four years and about $40 million. Pavano's agent, Scott Shapiro, said the deal could become official as early as Thursday.
A longer negotiation awaits with Carlos Beltran, who has until Jan. 8 to decide whether he wants to return to the Houston Astros. The Yankees have begun talks with Beltran's agent, Scott Boras.
"We're going to play on Carlos Beltran," Cashman said. "Whether that takes us anywhere, I don't know. We haven't made any offer."
The Mets need a starter, and they met again on Sunday with Fernando Cuza, the agent for Pedro MartÃ*nez and Odalis Perez. Minaya said he still hoped to sign MartÃ*nez but also had extended an offer to another starter, possibly the left-handed Perez.
MartÃ*nez has a three-year offer to stay in Boston, but the sides have been unable to work out acceptable bonuses, according to an agent who was briefed on the talks. Minaya conceded that Cuza could be using the Mets' offer as leverage with the Red Sox, who might not be able to afford shortstop Edgar Renteria if they sign MartÃ*nez.
Whatever happens with MartÃ*nez, Minaya will keep a pipeline open to Cuza, who also represents outfielder Moises Alou. The Mets seem to prefer Alou as their right fielder, believing he can make the switch from left.
"There's been some talk that he could play right field," Minaya said.
Delgado met with the Yankees and the Mets at the winter meetings, but he is not close to signing and did not receive an appealing offer from the Mets. The Mets also believe that Sexson will sign elsewhere, with Baltimore and Seattle maintaining strong interest.
The Mets could turn to a better defensive first baseman instead. The Mets are interested in the free agent John Olerud, and trading for Boston's Doug Mientkiewicz is another option.
Minaya said that he would speak with Dick Moss, the agent for the free-agent Japanese second baseman Tadahito Iguchi. But Minaya virtually guaranteed that Kaz Matsui would remain the Mets' second baseman, despite reports that said the Mets had included him in trade talks.
"Kaz Matsui is going to be our second baseman next year," Minaya said. "We are not talking or entertaining anything with Kaz Matsui."
Still, the Mets have had interest in Texas Rangers second baseman Alfonso Soriano, who is available in a trade. One scout said the Mets have flirted with the idea of trading Matsui because they still like Soriano.
Minaya said he would have dinner in New York this week with Matsui and Manager Willie Randolph, who continues to reach out to his players. Randolph said he talked to catcher Mike Piazza by phone for 10 minutes on Sunday, the first time the two had spoken since Randolph got the job on Nov. 3.
"It was a casual conversation," Randolph said. "He said, 'I'm looking forward to working with you and getting this thing turned around.' "
The Yankees' prospective rotation will probably include Jaret Wright. The Yankees are still studying the results of Wright's physical, but his three-year, $21 million contract agreement is expected to stand. Cashman reiterated that the Yankees remain very interested in Wright.
Cashman also said that the major leaguer teams ask for most often is starter Javier Vazquez. The Florida Marlins have asked about trading starter A. J. Burnett for Vazquez, but Cashman said he did not expect to make a trade.
"We'll listen, like anything else, but we're not shopping Javy Vazquez," Cashman said. "I haven't proposed him in any trade to anybody."
Vazquez was included in every possible trade for Randy Johnson when the Yankees and the Arizona Diamondbacks were talking. But there has been no movement on a deal for Johnson since the Yankees broke off talks on Dec. 1.
Johnson's agents had a lengthy meeting with Diamondbacks officials on Saturday night, but there was no indication that Johnson had changed his mind about wanting to be traded. "There's no dialogue on that trade front whatsoever," Cashman said.
Cashman also said he did not expect to trade starter Kevin Brown, despite the Yankees' private wish to be rid of him. Brown has a complete no-trade clause, and Boras, his agent, said he doubted Brown would be dealt.
"I don't think the trading of Kevin Brown is an option," Boras said.
Cashman spoke on Sunday with Cuza, Martinez's agent, and with Casey Close, who represents the left-hander Eric Milton. But Cashman has said the Yankees plan to sign only two starters, and Pavano and Wright are nearly in the fold.
Boras, who also represents the Yankees' Bernie Williams, has said that Williams will consider moving to first base if Beltran takes over in center. But that is not an option Cashman wanted to consider.
"My initial reaction is, 'That doesn't make sense,' " he said. "I'm not sure how those bunt plays would work out in spring training."
For Minaya, Lots of Wheeling, Not Much Dealing
By TYLER KEPNER
Published: December 13, 2004
ANAHEIM, Calif., Dec. 12 - When Omar Minaya was the general manager of the Expos, most of his major moves had to wait until January, when he could sort through baseball's bargain bins. "Maybe that's still in me," Minaya said Sunday.
Minaya is now the Mets' general manager, but with the winter meetings ending Monday, he has still not implemented his plans. He is prepared to leave without making a deal, with the slugging first basemen Carlos Delgado and Richie Sexson seemingly slipping away.
"I don't feel there's a rush to do something, just for the sake of going up to the podium to make an announcement," Minaya said.
The Yankees also expect to leave without an announcement, General Manager Brian Cashman said, even though starter Carl Pavano has decided to play for them for four years and about $40 million. Pavano's agent, Scott Shapiro, said the deal could become official as early as Thursday.
A longer negotiation awaits with Carlos Beltran, who has until Jan. 8 to decide whether he wants to return to the Houston Astros. The Yankees have begun talks with Beltran's agent, Scott Boras.
"We're going to play on Carlos Beltran," Cashman said. "Whether that takes us anywhere, I don't know. We haven't made any offer."
The Mets need a starter, and they met again on Sunday with Fernando Cuza, the agent for Pedro MartÃ*nez and Odalis Perez. Minaya said he still hoped to sign MartÃ*nez but also had extended an offer to another starter, possibly the left-handed Perez.
MartÃ*nez has a three-year offer to stay in Boston, but the sides have been unable to work out acceptable bonuses, according to an agent who was briefed on the talks. Minaya conceded that Cuza could be using the Mets' offer as leverage with the Red Sox, who might not be able to afford shortstop Edgar Renteria if they sign MartÃ*nez.
Whatever happens with MartÃ*nez, Minaya will keep a pipeline open to Cuza, who also represents outfielder Moises Alou. The Mets seem to prefer Alou as their right fielder, believing he can make the switch from left.
"There's been some talk that he could play right field," Minaya said.
Delgado met with the Yankees and the Mets at the winter meetings, but he is not close to signing and did not receive an appealing offer from the Mets. The Mets also believe that Sexson will sign elsewhere, with Baltimore and Seattle maintaining strong interest.
The Mets could turn to a better defensive first baseman instead. The Mets are interested in the free agent John Olerud, and trading for Boston's Doug Mientkiewicz is another option.
Minaya said that he would speak with Dick Moss, the agent for the free-agent Japanese second baseman Tadahito Iguchi. But Minaya virtually guaranteed that Kaz Matsui would remain the Mets' second baseman, despite reports that said the Mets had included him in trade talks.
"Kaz Matsui is going to be our second baseman next year," Minaya said. "We are not talking or entertaining anything with Kaz Matsui."
Still, the Mets have had interest in Texas Rangers second baseman Alfonso Soriano, who is available in a trade. One scout said the Mets have flirted with the idea of trading Matsui because they still like Soriano.
Minaya said he would have dinner in New York this week with Matsui and Manager Willie Randolph, who continues to reach out to his players. Randolph said he talked to catcher Mike Piazza by phone for 10 minutes on Sunday, the first time the two had spoken since Randolph got the job on Nov. 3.
"It was a casual conversation," Randolph said. "He said, 'I'm looking forward to working with you and getting this thing turned around.' "
The Yankees' prospective rotation will probably include Jaret Wright. The Yankees are still studying the results of Wright's physical, but his three-year, $21 million contract agreement is expected to stand. Cashman reiterated that the Yankees remain very interested in Wright.
Cashman also said that the major leaguer teams ask for most often is starter Javier Vazquez. The Florida Marlins have asked about trading starter A. J. Burnett for Vazquez, but Cashman said he did not expect to make a trade.
"We'll listen, like anything else, but we're not shopping Javy Vazquez," Cashman said. "I haven't proposed him in any trade to anybody."
Vazquez was included in every possible trade for Randy Johnson when the Yankees and the Arizona Diamondbacks were talking. But there has been no movement on a deal for Johnson since the Yankees broke off talks on Dec. 1.
Johnson's agents had a lengthy meeting with Diamondbacks officials on Saturday night, but there was no indication that Johnson had changed his mind about wanting to be traded. "There's no dialogue on that trade front whatsoever," Cashman said.
Cashman also said he did not expect to trade starter Kevin Brown, despite the Yankees' private wish to be rid of him. Brown has a complete no-trade clause, and Boras, his agent, said he doubted Brown would be dealt.
"I don't think the trading of Kevin Brown is an option," Boras said.
Cashman spoke on Sunday with Cuza, Martinez's agent, and with Casey Close, who represents the left-hander Eric Milton. But Cashman has said the Yankees plan to sign only two starters, and Pavano and Wright are nearly in the fold.
Boras, who also represents the Yankees' Bernie Williams, has said that Williams will consider moving to first base if Beltran takes over in center. But that is not an option Cashman wanted to consider.
"My initial reaction is, 'That doesn't make sense,' " he said. "I'm not sure how those bunt plays would work out in spring training."