Baseball Guru
05-30-2002, 08:25 PM
By JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer
May 30, 2002, 7:03 PM EDT
CINCINNATI -- Jeff Shaw won't get a chance to make a comeback with the Cincinnati Reds.
General manager Jim Bowden told Shaw's agent on Thursday that their discussions had reached a dead end. The free agent reliever had hoped to revive his career in Cincinnati, which is close to home.
Instead, he's prepared to retire.
"We appreciate the fact that Jim put the time and effort into this," agent Joe Bick said. "I know he was sincere in wanting to make this work, but he lacked support elsewhere in the organization."
The Reds are finishing their final season at Cinergy Field with a tight budget further strained by a drop in attendance, making them wary about adding to their $45 million payroll.
Bowden declined to discuss the reasons for the team's decision.
"We just couldn't make it work," Bowden said. "It's a dead issue. Now we're going in other directions."
Shaw, 35, became a free agent after last season when Los Angeles bought out his contract option. He talked to the Chicago Cubs in spring training, but couldn't come to an agreement.
He lives about an hour north of Cincinnati in Washington Court House and approached the Reds during spring training about a contract. The club decided it couldn't afford to add Shaw, who pitched for the Reds from 1996-98.
Bick approached the Reds again this month and discussed the framework for a deal last week with Bowden.
"We made a proposal when they asked us to make one," Bick said. "Jim and I had a couple of conversations since. In the final analysis, the Reds never made us a proposal. They said, 'We just can't do this.'"
Shaw had been staying in shape in case the Reds were interested. Bick said that Shaw doesn't want to pitch for any other team, and he's prepared to retire rather than search for another offer.
"There are no other considerations whatsoever," Bick said.
Shaw was successful on 43 of 52 save chances for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. He was 3-5 with a 3.62 ERA in 77 games.
Shaw has 203 saves in a major league career that started in 1990 with Cleveland. The two-time All-Star also has pitched for Montreal, the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati.
He led the NL with 42 saves in 1997 for Cincinnati. He had a career-high 48 saves in 1998 while splitting the season with the Reds and Dodgers.
AP Sports Writer
May 30, 2002, 7:03 PM EDT
CINCINNATI -- Jeff Shaw won't get a chance to make a comeback with the Cincinnati Reds.
General manager Jim Bowden told Shaw's agent on Thursday that their discussions had reached a dead end. The free agent reliever had hoped to revive his career in Cincinnati, which is close to home.
Instead, he's prepared to retire.
"We appreciate the fact that Jim put the time and effort into this," agent Joe Bick said. "I know he was sincere in wanting to make this work, but he lacked support elsewhere in the organization."
The Reds are finishing their final season at Cinergy Field with a tight budget further strained by a drop in attendance, making them wary about adding to their $45 million payroll.
Bowden declined to discuss the reasons for the team's decision.
"We just couldn't make it work," Bowden said. "It's a dead issue. Now we're going in other directions."
Shaw, 35, became a free agent after last season when Los Angeles bought out his contract option. He talked to the Chicago Cubs in spring training, but couldn't come to an agreement.
He lives about an hour north of Cincinnati in Washington Court House and approached the Reds during spring training about a contract. The club decided it couldn't afford to add Shaw, who pitched for the Reds from 1996-98.
Bick approached the Reds again this month and discussed the framework for a deal last week with Bowden.
"We made a proposal when they asked us to make one," Bick said. "Jim and I had a couple of conversations since. In the final analysis, the Reds never made us a proposal. They said, 'We just can't do this.'"
Shaw had been staying in shape in case the Reds were interested. Bick said that Shaw doesn't want to pitch for any other team, and he's prepared to retire rather than search for another offer.
"There are no other considerations whatsoever," Bick said.
Shaw was successful on 43 of 52 save chances for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. He was 3-5 with a 3.62 ERA in 77 games.
Shaw has 203 saves in a major league career that started in 1990 with Cleveland. The two-time All-Star also has pitched for Montreal, the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati.
He led the NL with 42 saves in 1997 for Cincinnati. He had a career-high 48 saves in 1998 while splitting the season with the Reds and Dodgers.