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Matt Miller, OF, Rockies
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Source: BenMaller.com
AL East
Curt Schilling said he plans to file for free agency after the season if he doesn’t receive a contract extension before the end of spring training but it appears the Red Sox are not in a hurry to give him one. Even though talks between Schilling, who will be paid $13 million this season, and general manager Theo Epstein are under way, Sox chairman Tom Werner said the team is more likely to wait and see how the 40-year-old looks on the mound this season before issuing an extension. “It’s understandable that a player would be wanting to talk to management about extending a contract,†said Werner, who arrived yesterday with fellow owners John Henry and Larry Lucchino. “It’s also understandable for us to take a peek before giving him more of a ‘yes’ answer.â€
Even though rumors were swirling that the Red Sox were leaning toward putting Jonathan Papelbon back in the role, several sources indicated the owners were simply having fun and the intentions are still to have Papelbon pitch as a starter. The top closer candidate is believed to be former Seattle starter Joel Pineiro but there are several others in the mix, including Mike Timlin, Julian Tavarez, Brendan Donnelly, Craig Hansen, Manny Delcarmen and Devern Hansack.
According to agent Scott Boras, Bernie Williams is staying home in Armonk until the Yankees give him an indication he is needed.
Yanks manager Joe Torre said he didn’t know how long he would wait before writing Bernie Williams off, but that the later Williams waited, the harder it would be for him to earn a spot on the roster. “He certainly feels he can be a helpful contributor in ’07,” Scott Boras said. “He wants to remain loyal to the Yankees and doesn’t feel it’s appropriate for him to play for another club.”
Add Derek Jeter to the list of players who think the new training hat has to go. “The hats are terrible,” Jeter said of the mesh caps that have the interlocking NY outlined, with white piping on the sides over the ears.
Victor Zambrano said that Toronto’s willingness to give him plenty of rehabilitation time was a main reason he signed a Minor League contract with the club in January. The right-hander became a free agent after the Mets decided against offering him a new contract, which would’ve had to be worth a minimum of $2.4 million. Zambrano’s new contract has a base salary of $500,000, but it also includes incentives based on starts and relief outings. The deal also has a club option worth $4 million for 2008. “Really, the big plum for us might be next year,” Ricciardi said. “You saw what guys are making, so we took a shot.”
Jonny Gomes showed up Tuesday weighing in at 238 pounds and looking lean after season-ending shoulder surgery in 2006. He said he’s been throwing and hitting live pitching, “So there’s no holding back.” He also said he has been using a first basemen’s mitt Rocco Baldelli gave him. “I don’t even have an outfielder’s glove right now. So that’s the only thing that feels good on my hand right now. … [The Devil Rays] asked me around the Winter Meetings what I would think about [trying first base] and I said, ‘Believe me, I’m just trying to play baseball, wherever it is.'” According to Maddon they will look at Gomes as an outfielder first.
AL Central
This almost certainly is the beginning of the end of Torii Hunter’s tenure in Minnesota. Hunter, 31, is entering the final year of his contract after the Twins exercised a $12 million option. He said there are too many other key contracts on the Twins’ priority list and knows there probably won’t be enough money left over to keep him in Minnesota. “I ain’t stupid,” said Hunter, reiterating that he would like to spend his entire career with the Twins. “I know how this organization works. But (team owner Carl) Pohlad might just say, ‘I’ll sell one of my buildings,’ so anything’s possible. But (contractually) I’m here for one more year, so I’m trying to enjoy it and win a World Series.” Hunter said he has not talked to the club about an extension and doesn’t expect to before the season begins. General manager Terry Ryan said it’s “not necessarily” a foregone conclusion that Hunter will be gone after this season but declined further comment.
The Royals show no interest in re-signing veteran lefty Mark Redman, who remains available on the free-agent market. Redman was the club’s pitcher of the year in 2006 after going 11-10 with a 5.71 ERA in 29 starts. “We’ve got to go with what we have,†general manager Dayton Moore said. “We’re comfortable with what we have at this point.â€
Tigers OF Gary Sheffield ripped his former Yanks manager: “Joe [Torre] took the fire out of me,” Sheffield told The Post yesterday at ProPeak Fitness, where he spent the winter chiseling his 38-year-old body getting ready for the first season as a Tiger. He was dealt for three young arms. “I am running out on the field with the extra players. Think of what was going through my head. It takes the fight out of you. I have been through a lot. To tell me that I had to run out with the extra players, that took it to another level. I wanted to make sure I didn’t lash out and affect the team, but the way we played it looked like we were affected already.”
White Sox 2B Tadahito Iguchi discouraged any talk about his contract. He gets $3.25 million this season, a deal dwarfed by the three-year, $20 million contract the New York Mets signed infielder Kaz Matsui to before the 2004 season. Matsui is scheduled to earn $1.5 million in 2007 with Colorado. The Sox also don’t have a top second-base prospect, although Triple-A infielder Pedro Lopez once was touted as a top player and he’s only 22.
Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell’s steroid investigation pushed forward on Tuesday, when more information was sought from the Twins. Twins President Dave St. Peter confirmed the Tuesday meeting, which included officials and lawyers from Major League Baseball, the Twins and the Twins’ medical staff. “These are additional people they are talking to,” St. Peter said. “People they didn’t interview last summer when we went through this in Minnesota.”
White Sox third baseman Joe Crede opted against back surgery only after getting a second opinion from the top spine specialist last fall. Crede revealed Tuesday he sought advice from Dr. Drew Dossett after one specialist recommended surgery that would have forced him on an extensive rehabilitation program for the entire off-season. Instead, Crede embarked on a more intense fitness program designed by former Sox strength coach Steve Odgers of Boras Sports Training that has kept him pain free so far. “[Dossett said surgery] does not guarantee the pain is going away, plus you’ll have a little scar tissue there,” Crede said Tuesday.
With the contracts of Torii Hunter, Luis Castillo, Carlos Silva and Ramon Ortiz set to expire after this season, the Twins could clear $25.2 million off the books to try to lock up Michael Cuddyer and Justin Morneau. The team is expected to begin talks with Johan Santana during spring training on a contract extension. He has two more seasons remaining on an original four-year, $40 million deal.
Everyone except veteran Royals outfielder Reggie Sanders has checked into camp – two days before the first official full-squad workout. “Reggie’s been through enough of these to know what to do,†manager Buddy Bell said. “But I don’t think I’ve ever been around a camp where this many guys have shown up this early.
So far, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire likes what he sees from pitcher Sidney Ponson. “Right up to this point we like the way he is working,” he said. “He fits in very nicely here. He’s doing all the work. He’s got a good smile on his face. That’s fun to see.”
Royals veteran Scott Elarton remained determined to test his rebuilt right shoulder by pitching under supervision from a mound for the first time since last July 16. “I’m there,†he vowed. “Wind, rain, sleet or snow. I’m like the mailman today.†No problem, as it turned out. The desert sky bloomed, and Elarton delivered his 25 pitches in growing sunshine. It couldn’t have gone much better. “How’d I look?†he asked with a beaming smile before answering his own question. “It feels good. It feels strong. Free and easy. … The house of cards is still together.â€
Still no change in the status of Twins righthander Ramon Ortiz. He’s expected to arrive in camp Thursday after running into trouble obtaining a visa in his native Dominican Republic.
Now, as the Indians prepare for the ’07 season, Jhonny Peralta, who reported to Spring Training on Tuesday, is under particular scrutiny. The Tribe’s only legitimate roster decision in camp will be the utility infielder’s job, and that player is expected to be particularly adept at short, in order to back up Peralta. Peralta and utility infield candidates Hector Luna, Luis Rivas, Joe Inglett, Keith Ginter and Mike Rouse were all put through some defensive drills on Tuesday morning, and Wedge was encouraged by Peralta’s first day.
Through the years, scouts have marveled at Indians ace Jake Westbrook’s sinker, some saying it’s the best they have seen. Has he thrown an entire game of nothing but sinking fastballs? “No, but I’ve gone 90 percent,” Westbrook said. “When you don’t have to throw secondary pitches, it’s a plus. And sometimes, even though everybody knows you’re going to throw it (sinker), it doesn’t matter. And it’s hard for me to throw a ball straight, even a four-seam fastball.”
AL West
According to a major league source, the Rangers have offered shortstop Michael Young a contract extension that would keep him in Texas beyond 2008. But neither side is publicly talking about an offer or about anything having to do with the contract. That could simply mean both sides are interested in furthering dialogue without negotiating publicly.
Mariners icon Ichiro Suzuki admitted for the first time Tuesday that he might leave Seattle after the 2007 season. Stopping far short of saying he wanted out, Ichiro said the idea of becoming a free agent after his contract expires this year is at least worth considering. His agent said the Mariners’ ability to win this season will figure prominently into Ichiro’s decision.
This will be Richie Sexson’s third season as the Mariners first baseman. It seemed that would never happen when his name was bandied about in trade talk during the winter. “I knew it wasn’t personal,” said Sexson, who’s due to make $14 million this year. “It was about money. It’s not like I’m a bad guy.” Now that the talk has subsided and he’s in camp, Sexson said the Mariners need to win. And they need to win now. “It’s time (to win),” Sexson said. “We’re tired of losing. The fans are tired of it. The players are tired of it. We all are. And we’ve got a team that we can win with.”
It will be a while before the Mariners get their first look at third baseman Sean Burroughs. A minor league free agent, Burroughs separated his shoulder when he slipped while fishing near his San Diego home last week. He had a precautionary MRI that revealed a sprained AC joint. He’ll stay in San Diego and will be re-examined in 7-10 days
GM Bill Stoneman was surprised to learn Tuesday that Orlando Cabrera played 15 to 20 games in Colombia this winter – without the Angels’ permission – and relieved to learn the shortstop did not get hurt.
Seattle manager Mike Hargrove doesn’t expect Ichiro’s contract status to be a distraction at all during the upcoming season. “Players are really good at compartmentalizing things,” he said. “He understands he’s got a job to do and that affects how things turn out in the end. Ichiro is a strong-minded person.”
A’s manager Bob Geren was impressed with Bobby Crosby’s new look, which features the scruffy beginnings of a full beard and curly, medium-length hair that makes him look like Justin Timberlake’s buffed-out big brother. “I’m not used to seeing him with any hair.”
Ichiro, whose bats are made out of a hard Japanese wood, said he breaks as many as 30 bats a year. He made it seem like a lot, but other hitters can break that many in a month or two.
NL East
Mets OF Moises Alou doesn’t credit any miracle diet or magic elixir for his ability to remain one of the game’s most accomplished hitters at the age of 40, according to NEWSDAY. He doesn’t scarf down egg whites by the dozens like Julio Franco. Or run beyond the brink of exhaustion like Orlando Hernandez. His secret? Alou counts the calories on the side of a 12-ounce can. “I drink light beer,” he said.
Andruw Jones’ agent is hard-driving Scott Boras, who might seek a long-term contract worth more than $20 million annually. The Braves could probably do such a lucrative deal only if they increased their team payroll significantly from its current $80 million. Jones, who has 92 homers and 257 RBIs the past two seasons, said he would prefer to spend his entire career with the Braves, then become a coach in their organization. But he indicated the Braves shouldn’t expect to keep him at a “hometown discount” and that he would veto any trade if they tried to move him before the end of the season. He said the Braves assured him they didn’t try to trade him last year and have no intention of doing so this season.
Andruw Jones, who has played in Atlanta since 1996, said the contract negotiations won’t prove to be a distraction. Unlike some other players from other teams, he’s not providing his employer with any sort of ultimatum. Instead, he’s more focused on doing whatever is necessary to get the Braves back into the postseason. “Right now, I’m under contract with the Braves,” Jones said. “I’m just happy to be here and happy to continue to be here. Hopefully when the season is over, we can get something accomplished so that I can stay here and be a Brave for life.” About a month ago, Jones told MLB.com that he’d like to receive an eight-year contract from the Braves.
One reason left-hander Taylor Tankersley can make a case for the Marlins’ closer role: He actually held right-handers to a lower average (.222) than lefties (.236) in 2006, with a higher strikeout percentage vs. right-handers. ”I can use three pitches vs. right-handers, and only two vs. lefties,” he said.
Shortstop Jimmy Rollins considers the Phillies better than the Mets based on the teams’ pitching staffs – an analysis that might have changed had the defending division champs landed Barry Zito: “Am I glad Zito’s in San Francisco instead of New York? Definitely. He wins… To put him on that staff, we’d have to think a little harder about thinking we’re the team to beat.”
Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez, 43, coached for the Braves for four years after coaching for the Marlins for three. He has learned his craft mostly at the side of longtime Braves manager Bobby Cox. The advice he most has taken to heart is “just to be yourself. Don’t try to be somebody that you’re not. “Bobby probably gave me the best advice – don’t read the paper, don’t listen to talk radio, and it’s OK to say no to people. So far, I’m having a tough time doing that,” Gonzalez said.
Phils minor league infielder Danny Sandoval remains in Venezuela, trapped in visa limbo. A Venezuelan warrant for the arrest of a person matching Sandoval’s name or appearance is the holdup, Phillies personnel said. More information is expected today, and Sandoval could be in camp by tomorrow.
NL Central
OF Geoff Jenkins made it clear Tuesday that he’d rather move on to another club than face any significant reduction in playing time with the Brewers in 2007. “I’ve got to go (if not playing regularly). I need to go. They owe me that, as much as I’ve done for the organization, to at least put me in a situation where I get a chance to play,” said Jenkins, who took part in his first workout of the spring. “My mentality is I don’t like to sit. I’ll take a day off every once in a while but I don’t like to sit. That’s how I’m made. I like going out there and leading the team and being out there with the guys. That’s what I’ve always done.”
Now comes the hard part for the Cubs – working out a long-term deal with Carlos Zambrano. “Like ‘Z’ said, the goal is [that] this needs to get done before Opening Day because he doesn’t want it to become a distraction,” Praver said. But the sides remain far apart. The Cubs are thinking about a deal comparable to the five-year, $73 million deal Roy Oswalt received from Houston last summer. Zambrano has said repeatedly he wants something close to the $18 million per year free-agent left-hander Barry Zito got from San Francisco, which would amount to $90 million for five years. “It’s up to [Hendry],” Zambrano said. “I’m ready to lead this team to a championship and win in this city. The fans deserve us to go to the playoffs and to win for the city of Chicago.” Hendry is convinced Zambrano wants to stay. But if they had gone to arbitration Tuesday, it probably would have been difficult to come to a long-term deal.
One of Reds manager Jerry Narron’s favorite subjects of discussion this spring has been right-hander Kyle Lohse. “I think Kyle Lohse has a chance to have a breakout year,” Narron said. “His stuff is as good as anybody’s we have. His changeup is outstanding.” Consider this: Lohse throws harder and has more big-league victories than either Bronson Arroyo or Aaron Harang, the expected Nos. 1 and 2 starters in the Reds’ rotation. But Lohse is three seasons removed from a winning season record.
Cards manager Tony La Russa said one candidate to get some time in center field this spring is Rick Ankiel. With Jim Edmonds severely limited in the early going, St. Louis will use a number of different players in center during exhibition games.
The Brewers appear better poised to deal with injuries this season. Gone is reliable lefty Doug Davis, but right-hander Claudio Vargas is coming off a 12-win season with Arizona and free-agent pickup Jeff Suppan has a long history of durability. Capuano and Dave Bush are coming off strong seasons.
The battle for the Astros starting job in right field is a three-man scrum between Luke Scott, Jason Lane and Richard Hidalgo that is expected to go down to the wire. “We’re not going to hand the job to Luke Scott even though he played very well the last couple months of the season,” Astros manager Phil Garner said. “Jason Lane needs to have a good spring, and then Richard Hidalgo is having a good offseason, and he’ll come in and compete as well.”
Cards 3B Scott Rolen spent his first day working out at Spring Training with his mind focused on baseball. It was a nice change as compared to last spring. “The fact that I’m healthy is a definite positive,” Rolen said Tuesday. “That’s not a question. I’m not going to sit here today and speculate what’s going to happen in August or September or July. … But as far as going in the cage and taking BP today on Day 1, I actually got to talk and laugh and take some swings, hit some balls.”
The good news is that Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez arrived healthy. He stuck to the offseason conditioning program he used one year ago, which focuses on strengthening his legs. He’s heard the criticism that he didn’t hustle. It wasn’t a lack of effort; he was told to take it easy by the medical staff and coaches. “Sometimes only the players and the trainers know what’s going on,” Ramirez said. “Sometimes it looks like you don’t hustle, but you’re not 100 percent. You can have problems with your legs, and nobody knows that.” Cubs manager Lou Piniella doesn’t foresee any issues. “This guy’s a professional,” Piniella said. “He’s an All-Star type quality player. In fact, down the road a little bit, we’ll talk to him a little bit about leadership on this team. I don’t anticipate any problems.” Piniella wouldn’t reveal possible punishment if a player doesn’t hustle. “I’ve been managing 18 years, and I’ve never had that as an issue on any team,” Piniella said. “It doesn’t take much effort to come out and work hard for three hours a day.”
The Astros aren’t expecting Chris Burke to steal bases as often or be as strong defensively as his predecessor. Taveras pilfered 67 bases during the last two years and had nine center-field assists last season, the second most in the National League. “Stolen bases are overrated,” Garner said. “Chris does not need to steal bases, but I’d like to see a better on-base percentage. This is not a competition against Willy for Chris, it’s to compete on this ballclub to help us win. We’re not comparing Willy to Chris. Willy did a fine job, Willy could have stolen more bases, and in another environment you would want him to steal more bases. We need Chris to do the things to make us a better offense, which is get on base a little better, move the runners a little better.” Garner conceded Burke will make mistakes, but he isn’t concerned with the learning curve. “He’s an intelligent player,” Garner said. “He’ll figure it out.”
NL West
Byung-Hyun Kim is a favorite to make the Rockies’ rotation – if he’s not traded to address other needs. Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca wants Kim to become more effective against left-handers, who hit .325 against him last season. Kim identified pitching inside as the key to having more success against lefties, along with relying more on his sinker and changeup.
Agent Scott Boras dropped by Rockies camp Tuesday to visit with clients Matt Holliday, Willy Taveras and Rodrigo Lopez. The team has not had any discussions with Boras about a long-term deal for Holliday.
During contract negotiations the possibility was raised that Nomar Garciaparra could be moved to a different position, but when he arrived Tuesday for his second Spring as a Dodger, Grady Little said Garciaparra is a first baseman, although he qualified that with “at this time.” Garciaparra said his offer stands, but the club hasn’t mentioned it lately. The thought during the winter was that if the Dodgers could get a slugger who happened to be a first baseman, Garciaparra might move to third. Or if a slugging second baseman was obtained, Jeff Kent might move to first and Garciaparra again could shift to third.
Fernando Tatis is trying to get back to the big leagues to stay, accepting a minor league contract with the Dodgers. “I love the game,” he said. “I still feel pretty strong. I don’t think I lost my ability.” Tatis, 32, had made $15 million when he walked away from baseball, wanting to spend time with his wife and five children in the Dominican Republic and remove himself from the painful grind of playing on banged-up knees and assorted other injuries. He came back last season, spending the bulk of it at triple A and getting 56 at-bats with the Baltimore Orioles. Tatis said he is healthier than at any time since 2000.
Who Knew? Among National League divisions, the West has, by far, the most career victories among its projected starting pitchers. The 25 projected starters in the NL West have combined for 2,129 career victories — far more than the 1,612 in the East and the 1,355 in the Central, which has six teams.
Who Knew? Dean of the Dodgers: That would be 36-year-old Olmedo Saenz. With the departure of Eric Gagne, Saenz has spent more continuous time on the roster than any Dodgers player. He made the club in 2004 as a non-roster player and no other current Dodger has been on the Major League roster as long as three full seasons.
Robby Hammock is in a tough fight for one of the final spots on the D-Backs roster. His ability to play six positions is his strongest selling point, but it doesn’t hurt that he has a good working relationship with Randy Johnson. Hammock, you might recall, was behind the plate on May 18 when Johnson threw a perfect game against the Braves in Atlanta and the two seemed to often be on the same page.
