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12-01-2006, 03:43 PM
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20061129-9999-1s29padres.htm
By Tom Krasovic
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
November 29, 2006
The Padres haven't ruled out trading for Boston Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez despite concerns about his salary, his subpar defense, his reputation for being lackadaisical and his apparent preference to remain in the American League.
San Diego, according to a major league source, told Boston it is willing to offer major league players for the slugger, who has a .411 career on-base percentage and 470 home runs.
As for who will play second base for the 2007 Padres, it won't be Craig Counsell, who yesterday backed out of a preliminary deal with San Diego and moved the Milwaukee Brewers onto his front burner, apparently because of family concerns.
Tony Graffanino now becomes prominent in San Diego's attempt to replace second baseman Josh Barfield, the 23-year-old traded for third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff last month.
The Padres have made a one-year offer to Graffanino, 34, who isn't their only candidate. Graffanino, making 511 plate appearance with the Royals and Brewers, batted .274 this season to go with 33 doubles and seven home runs. His salary was $2,050,000.
“We still feel there are some good options that are out there,” General Manager Kevin Towers said.
The Padres believed that they and Counsell's agent, Barry Meister, had a two-year, $5 million deal in place after long talks with Meister, plus a chat with Counsell on Monday. But after hearing from Meister yesterday, the Padres pulled their offer.
“The information I have is it came down to Counsell is from Wisconsin, lives in Wisconsin and wants to be closer to home,” Towers said. “I can't fault the player for that. If it came down to wanting to be closer to his family, I commend him for that.”
However, a Padres official said that at a certain juncture, the club will pull a deal if an agent attempts to “shake the money tree” after terms have been agreed upon. Meister told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that it was “premature” to say a preliminary agreement had been reached. The Cleveland Indians also were deep in negotiations with Counsell, 36, who could choose Milwaukee as soon as today.
In other developments, the Padres learned that the Yankees bought the negotiating rights to Kei Igawa, a left-handed pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers. The Padres had offered Hanshin more than $10 million, some $16 million less than what the Yankees reportedly bid.
“We were a little bit short again, it looks like, but it didn't surprise me,” Towers said.
The Padres consider Greg Maddux another option for their rotation. Maddux, 40, went 15-14 with a 4.20 ERA with the Cubs and Dodgers this year and reportedly is seeking a two-year deal that could exceed $20 million. The Padres, who have increased spending power resulting from some $30 million in payroll relief this offseason, would have owed Hanshin the $10 million-plus upon reaching terms with Igawa, plus a multiyear player contract that likely would have exceeded $10 million.
Ramirez, 34, could cost $78 million over the next four years if, to get his consent for a trade, he insists that $20 million options for 2009 and 2010 are picked up. As for the Padres players who are potential candidates in a trade, the club's No. 1 chip appears to be reliever Scott Linebrink. Pitcher Jake Peavy's name surfaced in a Padres-Red Sox trade report this past summer, after which Towers said he told Peavy that the pitcher will be in San Diego as long as Towers is the GM. Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez attracted trade overtures from the Red Sox when he was with the Rangers.
Also, the Padres announced their spring-training schedule. A twist to the menu is exhibition games against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field on March 29 and 31.
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By Tom Krasovic
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
November 29, 2006
The Padres haven't ruled out trading for Boston Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez despite concerns about his salary, his subpar defense, his reputation for being lackadaisical and his apparent preference to remain in the American League.
San Diego, according to a major league source, told Boston it is willing to offer major league players for the slugger, who has a .411 career on-base percentage and 470 home runs.
As for who will play second base for the 2007 Padres, it won't be Craig Counsell, who yesterday backed out of a preliminary deal with San Diego and moved the Milwaukee Brewers onto his front burner, apparently because of family concerns.
Tony Graffanino now becomes prominent in San Diego's attempt to replace second baseman Josh Barfield, the 23-year-old traded for third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff last month.
The Padres have made a one-year offer to Graffanino, 34, who isn't their only candidate. Graffanino, making 511 plate appearance with the Royals and Brewers, batted .274 this season to go with 33 doubles and seven home runs. His salary was $2,050,000.
“We still feel there are some good options that are out there,” General Manager Kevin Towers said.
The Padres believed that they and Counsell's agent, Barry Meister, had a two-year, $5 million deal in place after long talks with Meister, plus a chat with Counsell on Monday. But after hearing from Meister yesterday, the Padres pulled their offer.
“The information I have is it came down to Counsell is from Wisconsin, lives in Wisconsin and wants to be closer to home,” Towers said. “I can't fault the player for that. If it came down to wanting to be closer to his family, I commend him for that.”
However, a Padres official said that at a certain juncture, the club will pull a deal if an agent attempts to “shake the money tree” after terms have been agreed upon. Meister told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that it was “premature” to say a preliminary agreement had been reached. The Cleveland Indians also were deep in negotiations with Counsell, 36, who could choose Milwaukee as soon as today.
In other developments, the Padres learned that the Yankees bought the negotiating rights to Kei Igawa, a left-handed pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers. The Padres had offered Hanshin more than $10 million, some $16 million less than what the Yankees reportedly bid.
“We were a little bit short again, it looks like, but it didn't surprise me,” Towers said.
The Padres consider Greg Maddux another option for their rotation. Maddux, 40, went 15-14 with a 4.20 ERA with the Cubs and Dodgers this year and reportedly is seeking a two-year deal that could exceed $20 million. The Padres, who have increased spending power resulting from some $30 million in payroll relief this offseason, would have owed Hanshin the $10 million-plus upon reaching terms with Igawa, plus a multiyear player contract that likely would have exceeded $10 million.
Ramirez, 34, could cost $78 million over the next four years if, to get his consent for a trade, he insists that $20 million options for 2009 and 2010 are picked up. As for the Padres players who are potential candidates in a trade, the club's No. 1 chip appears to be reliever Scott Linebrink. Pitcher Jake Peavy's name surfaced in a Padres-Red Sox trade report this past summer, after which Towers said he told Peavy that the pitcher will be in San Diego as long as Towers is the GM. Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez attracted trade overtures from the Red Sox when he was with the Rangers.
Also, the Padres announced their spring-training schedule. A twist to the menu is exhibition games against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field on March 29 and 31.
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