00_Agent
12-06-2005, 11:25 AM
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
DALLAS -- When Jim Tracy left the Los Angeles Dodgers and became the Pirates' manager, he brought along as much of his coaching staff as he could.
More Coverage:
Pirates Notebook: Three Pirates to play in World Classic
Now, some players might be following him, too.
A team source confirmed yesterday the Pirates have interest in acquiring Milton Bradley, a talented but oft-troubled outfielder, and free-agent Olmedo Saenz, a platoon-type first baseman. Both played for Tracy last season, and both could be had, circumstances playing out, without having to give up anything via trade.
Bradley would represent the higher-profile deal, in more ways than one.
He is 27, has power and plate discipline, hits from both sides and to all fields and should be available for less than market value in a trade with Los Angeles, which is eager to move him. He batted .290 with 13 home runs and 38 RBIs in a 75-game season cut short by left knee surgery. He made $2.5 million and still will be seen as a bargain next year because he will receive no more than a modest raise through arbitration.
On the other hand, Bradley also has created negative vibes at every turn in his six-year career, including brushes with the law and a much-publicized spat with Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent last summer in which he accused Kent of being a racist.
Even so, Tracy has said on more than one occasion since his Oct. 11 hiring by the Pirates he had no issues with Bradley and would welcome an opportunity to manage him again. Likewise, Bradley consistently has held Tracy in high esteem, often referring to him as "my guy."
For now, a team would have to make a trade to acquire Bradley, but that could change Dec. 20, when Los Angeles faces a deadline to decide whether it wants to offer him arbitration or simply cut him loose. If it is the latter, Bradley will be a free agent.
The Dodgers are seeking help in the outfield, at third base and with starting pitching. The Pirates could accommodate only the latter.
The teams known to have pushed most aggressively for Bradley are the Oakland Athletics and Chicago Cubs.
Saenz, 30, is coming off a season in which he had a career-high 319 at-bats and wore down physically by season's end. But he also had career highs with 15 home runs and 63 RBIs to go with a .263 average while making $650,000. Tracy refers to Saenz as a "pure, professional hitter."
For what it is worth, Saenz made quite the firsthand impression on the Pirates last season, batting .438 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 16 at-bats.
If the Pirates were to acquire him, it would be as a bench player or a stopgap until power-hitting prospect Brad Eldred is deemed ready for full-time major-league duty.
On the first day of Major League Baseball's winter meetings yesterday, Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield acknowledged for the first time that finding a first baseman was his top priority. He ranked the rest of the positional priorities, in order, as right-handed relief, right field and third base.
That ranking revealed much about the Pirates' plans for the near future.
One is that Eldred, 25, who has extraordinary power but strikes out too often, will not join the 25-man roster until he shores up that deficiency and improves his glove work.
"The short time he's been in the majors, we've certainly seen some impressive things," Littlefield said. "But I would say contact and defense are two areas he needs to improve."
The other significance of the Pirates' prioritization is that it provides a clear sign the team sees little chance of upgrading at third base and will start next season with Freddy Sanchez, Rob Mackowiak or a platoon there.
Management seems particularly enamored of the defense Sanchez brings to the position.
"The defensive side of it is important," Littlefield said of third base. "And frankly, our defense was not good last year. With the way this club is going to be constructed, with our strengths, it certainly doesn't make sense to have shoddy defense with what we hope is good pitching."
Littlefield characterized the first day of winter meetings as having "a lot of activity" for the Pirates. He declined, as always, to offer specifics, but he suggested the team's chances of signing a free agent were just as good as getting a player through a trade, which seemed to represent a slight shift from previous remarks.
Asked if anything seemed imminent, he replied: "We've got a bunch of offers out there. You're always a phone call away."
In general, there was more speculation than substance on the opening day. Among the chatter concerning the Pirates was late-circulating word that they are planning to deal outfielder Craig Wilson and further confirmation that they are interested in trading for two prominent first basemen: Cincinnati's Sean Casey and Milwaukee's Lyle Overbay.
Brewers general manager Doug Melvin acknowledged yesterday that the Pirates had joined Toronto and Boston in teams bidding for Overbay, though he said he did not talk to Littlefield yesterday. Melvin is seeking an impact pitcher in return.
By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
DALLAS -- When Jim Tracy left the Los Angeles Dodgers and became the Pirates' manager, he brought along as much of his coaching staff as he could.
More Coverage:
Pirates Notebook: Three Pirates to play in World Classic
Now, some players might be following him, too.
A team source confirmed yesterday the Pirates have interest in acquiring Milton Bradley, a talented but oft-troubled outfielder, and free-agent Olmedo Saenz, a platoon-type first baseman. Both played for Tracy last season, and both could be had, circumstances playing out, without having to give up anything via trade.
Bradley would represent the higher-profile deal, in more ways than one.
He is 27, has power and plate discipline, hits from both sides and to all fields and should be available for less than market value in a trade with Los Angeles, which is eager to move him. He batted .290 with 13 home runs and 38 RBIs in a 75-game season cut short by left knee surgery. He made $2.5 million and still will be seen as a bargain next year because he will receive no more than a modest raise through arbitration.
On the other hand, Bradley also has created negative vibes at every turn in his six-year career, including brushes with the law and a much-publicized spat with Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent last summer in which he accused Kent of being a racist.
Even so, Tracy has said on more than one occasion since his Oct. 11 hiring by the Pirates he had no issues with Bradley and would welcome an opportunity to manage him again. Likewise, Bradley consistently has held Tracy in high esteem, often referring to him as "my guy."
For now, a team would have to make a trade to acquire Bradley, but that could change Dec. 20, when Los Angeles faces a deadline to decide whether it wants to offer him arbitration or simply cut him loose. If it is the latter, Bradley will be a free agent.
The Dodgers are seeking help in the outfield, at third base and with starting pitching. The Pirates could accommodate only the latter.
The teams known to have pushed most aggressively for Bradley are the Oakland Athletics and Chicago Cubs.
Saenz, 30, is coming off a season in which he had a career-high 319 at-bats and wore down physically by season's end. But he also had career highs with 15 home runs and 63 RBIs to go with a .263 average while making $650,000. Tracy refers to Saenz as a "pure, professional hitter."
For what it is worth, Saenz made quite the firsthand impression on the Pirates last season, batting .438 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 16 at-bats.
If the Pirates were to acquire him, it would be as a bench player or a stopgap until power-hitting prospect Brad Eldred is deemed ready for full-time major-league duty.
On the first day of Major League Baseball's winter meetings yesterday, Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield acknowledged for the first time that finding a first baseman was his top priority. He ranked the rest of the positional priorities, in order, as right-handed relief, right field and third base.
That ranking revealed much about the Pirates' plans for the near future.
One is that Eldred, 25, who has extraordinary power but strikes out too often, will not join the 25-man roster until he shores up that deficiency and improves his glove work.
"The short time he's been in the majors, we've certainly seen some impressive things," Littlefield said. "But I would say contact and defense are two areas he needs to improve."
The other significance of the Pirates' prioritization is that it provides a clear sign the team sees little chance of upgrading at third base and will start next season with Freddy Sanchez, Rob Mackowiak or a platoon there.
Management seems particularly enamored of the defense Sanchez brings to the position.
"The defensive side of it is important," Littlefield said of third base. "And frankly, our defense was not good last year. With the way this club is going to be constructed, with our strengths, it certainly doesn't make sense to have shoddy defense with what we hope is good pitching."
Littlefield characterized the first day of winter meetings as having "a lot of activity" for the Pirates. He declined, as always, to offer specifics, but he suggested the team's chances of signing a free agent were just as good as getting a player through a trade, which seemed to represent a slight shift from previous remarks.
Asked if anything seemed imminent, he replied: "We've got a bunch of offers out there. You're always a phone call away."
In general, there was more speculation than substance on the opening day. Among the chatter concerning the Pirates was late-circulating word that they are planning to deal outfielder Craig Wilson and further confirmation that they are interested in trading for two prominent first basemen: Cincinnati's Sean Casey and Milwaukee's Lyle Overbay.
Brewers general manager Doug Melvin acknowledged yesterday that the Pirates had joined Toronto and Boston in teams bidding for Overbay, though he said he did not talk to Littlefield yesterday. Melvin is seeking an impact pitcher in return.