Baseball Guru
01-06-2005, 10:09 AM
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=knight-aroundthehorntigersvinado&prov=knight&type=lgns
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The Tigers don't expect second baseman Fernando Vina to be healthy enough to start the season and don't consider themselves in the running for free-agent centerfielder Carlos Beltran.
Vina began 2004 as the starting second baseman but played only 29 games because of knee and hamstring injuries after signing a two-year deal for $6 million.
"We definitely do not anticipate Fernando being ready for the opener, and we're not sure beyond that," president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said Wednesday. "His health has not improved significantly, if at all, during the off-season."
Vina, who turns 36 on April 16, hit .226 last season. He won Gold Gloves in 2001-02 with the St. Louis Cardinals, and was an All-Star with Milwaukee in 1998.
Vina's agent, Sam Levinson, said Vina has a torn patella tendon and has been working hard with Sacramento Kings strength and conditioning coach Al Biancani since mid-May.
"It is a very difficult problem to deal with that is not necessarily repaired by an operation. The very last resort is surgery because of the risk, with no guaranteed outcome. You must give it every chance to heal, non-operatively," Levinson said. "Unfortunately, Fernando is not making any progress and the realistic chances of him coming back and playing this season are very, very slim."
Agent Scott Boras said he had received offers from all teams involved in negotiations for Beltran. Though the Tigers have been mentioned as a contender, Dombrowski said they haven't made an offer.
"He's a player we like a great deal, as we've said all along, but where we are and what his situation is financially just doesn't mesh," Dombrowski said.
Minnesota: Manager Ron Gardenhire, who has led the Twins to American League Central Division titles in each of his three seasons, signed a two-year contract extension through 2007 for undisclosed terms. Gardenhire, 47, is the fourth manager to start his career with three first-place finishes, joining Hughie Jennings of the Tigers (1907-09), Ralph Houk of the Yankees (1961-63) and Larry Dierker of the Astros (1997-99). The Twins were 92-70 last season.
Tampa Bay: Free-agent infielder Alex S. Gonzalez signed a one-year contract for $1.75 million. The Devil Rays plan to use Gonzalez, 31, at third base. He hit .225 with seven homers and 27 RBIs in 83 games with the Cubs, Expos and Padres. Gonzalez missed more than two months with a broken right wrist before the Cubs traded him to Montreal as part of the four-team deal that sent Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs and Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz to the Red Sox. Gonzalez joined the Padres on Sept. 16 after an injury to shortstop Khalil Greene.
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The Tigers don't expect second baseman Fernando Vina to be healthy enough to start the season and don't consider themselves in the running for free-agent centerfielder Carlos Beltran.
Vina began 2004 as the starting second baseman but played only 29 games because of knee and hamstring injuries after signing a two-year deal for $6 million.
"We definitely do not anticipate Fernando being ready for the opener, and we're not sure beyond that," president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said Wednesday. "His health has not improved significantly, if at all, during the off-season."
Vina, who turns 36 on April 16, hit .226 last season. He won Gold Gloves in 2001-02 with the St. Louis Cardinals, and was an All-Star with Milwaukee in 1998.
Vina's agent, Sam Levinson, said Vina has a torn patella tendon and has been working hard with Sacramento Kings strength and conditioning coach Al Biancani since mid-May.
"It is a very difficult problem to deal with that is not necessarily repaired by an operation. The very last resort is surgery because of the risk, with no guaranteed outcome. You must give it every chance to heal, non-operatively," Levinson said. "Unfortunately, Fernando is not making any progress and the realistic chances of him coming back and playing this season are very, very slim."
Agent Scott Boras said he had received offers from all teams involved in negotiations for Beltran. Though the Tigers have been mentioned as a contender, Dombrowski said they haven't made an offer.
"He's a player we like a great deal, as we've said all along, but where we are and what his situation is financially just doesn't mesh," Dombrowski said.
Minnesota: Manager Ron Gardenhire, who has led the Twins to American League Central Division titles in each of his three seasons, signed a two-year contract extension through 2007 for undisclosed terms. Gardenhire, 47, is the fourth manager to start his career with three first-place finishes, joining Hughie Jennings of the Tigers (1907-09), Ralph Houk of the Yankees (1961-63) and Larry Dierker of the Astros (1997-99). The Twins were 92-70 last season.
Tampa Bay: Free-agent infielder Alex S. Gonzalez signed a one-year contract for $1.75 million. The Devil Rays plan to use Gonzalez, 31, at third base. He hit .225 with seven homers and 27 RBIs in 83 games with the Cubs, Expos and Padres. Gonzalez missed more than two months with a broken right wrist before the Cubs traded him to Montreal as part of the four-team deal that sent Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs and Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz to the Red Sox. Gonzalez joined the Padres on Sept. 16 after an injury to shortstop Khalil Greene.