By Larry LaRue
The News Tribune
BOSTON – Major league baseball didn’t contract Monday, though the Toronto Blue Jays seemed to be trying.
On a day when the Seattle Mariners and most other teams did little more than talk, the Blue Jays moved a second key player for minor talent – then made it clear outfielder Raul Mondesi was on the block, too.
No, the Mariners aren’t interested.
“We need players, three or four players,” general manager Pat Gillick said. “Raul’s contract is for $24 million over the next two years – we might be able to get a few players for that money.”
In the only deal of the day, Toronto sent shortstop Alex Gonzalez to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for reliever Felix Heredia and a minor league player to be named later.
Last week, Toronto sent closer Billy Koch to Oakland for two minor leaguers, and now the Blue Jays are trying to dump Mondesi and his contract.
It was a day when names flew but players stayed put. The Mariners talked to Bret Boone’s agent, talked to Florida and Colorado and Pittsburgh and Boston.
“I’d say we advanced things a bit,” said Gillick. “We didn’t eliminate anything. We had a lot of conversations.”
A team looking for offensive production, the Mariners are in a market exploding with it – Mondesi, Gary Sheffield, Jermaine Dye, David Justice, Mo Vaughn, Scott Rolen and Jeff Cirillo are all said to be available in trade.
None, of course, will come cheaply – either financially or in talent given up. The Rockies, for instance, asked Seattle for pitchers Dennis Stark, Brett Tomko and infielder Ramon Vazquez in exchange for third baseman Cirillo. Interesting offer, but Gillick and his staff think they can do better than Cirillo using some of the same players – so talks continue.
“We have 13 position players on our 40-man major league roster, and that’s not enough to field a team,” Gillick said. “Right now, lots of names are going back and forth, but there’s nothing on the table I’d say ‘yes’ to at the moment.”
Trade winds: Among the surprising names surfacing in rumors Monday was Cleveland shortstop Omar Vizquel. Vizquel has three years and about $15 million left on his deal with the Indians – and can veto any trade – but the team wants to move him and he’s said to be open to leaving. … The Dodgers are trying to move either outfielder Tom Goodwin or Marquis Grissom, and the Rangers may go for it. Texas offered pitcher Darren Oliver, Los Angeles passed and asked for reliever Juan Moreno. … First baseman Mo Vaughn gave the Angels a list of six teams to which he would accept a trade, and the Angels said they’d try to move him. The teams: the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, Dodgers and Braves. … The Mets just got veteran David Justice from the Yankees for third baseman Robin Ventura, but now they’re trying to trade him. The Athletics have expressed interest. … St. Louis has expressed interest in first baseman Tino Martinez. Martinez, who replaced Don Mattingly in New York in 1996, would be asked to follow Mark McGwire with the Cardinals. … The Mets and Rangers have talked about a deal for New York closer Armando Benitez, but the Mets declined to pick up outfielder Rusty Greer’s $6.8 million contract.
Ungracious host: Boston may be the host city of the meetings, but Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette – whose job security will last only until the team is sold later this month – is hardly being a hospitable host. Duquette won’t talk to the media and last week canceled a meeting with Red Sox writers to discuss the team’s needs.
Job shopping: The meetings aren’t just for high-profile trades and signings. Bob Didier, the former Seattle third base coach who was the Yankees advance scout the past two seasons, is among those here looking for work.
Tough times for Tribe: The Cleveland Indians aren’t even trying to bring back free agent center fielder Kenny Lofton, and may be content to try Brady Anderson – who batted .202 in Baltimore last year – as their leadoff hitter. The Indians have been ordered to cut payroll.
Bonds talk: Agent Scott Boras hinted strongly that the Giants have offered free agent Barry Bonds a four-year, $72 million deal. The Giants say there is no offer on the table.
Cardinals sign Isringhausen for $27 million: Jason Isringhausen signed a $27 million, four-year contract Monday with St. Louis, opting to play for a winner close to home rather than fetch the biggest contract. Isringhausen turned down an offer from the Texas Rangers for nearly $30 million over four years. Isringhausen, who grew up a half-hour from St. Louis in Brighton, Ill., will play for the team he grew up cheering for and in front of his family. Isringhausen, 29, was 4-3 with 34 saves in 43 chances and 2.65 ERA last season.
Yanks, Giambi almost done on seven-year deal worth about $120 million: The New York Yankees just about finalized their deal with Jason Giambi on Monday, a seven-year contract approaching $120 million. The team and player began making arrangements for the first baseman to take a physical.
Also for the Yankees, Mel Stottlemyre decided against retirement and will return for his seventh season as the Yankees’ pitching coach. Stottlemyre missed the 2000 playoffs while undergoing treatment for cancer, then rejoined the team last February.
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