Phillies aren't finding a match for Abreu

12/06/2005
DALLAS -- Despite his name being linked to nearly every team in baseball, Bobby Abreu spent another day as a member of the Phillies.
While he remains the hot name being discussed -- and general manager Pat Gillick is still open to suggestions -- a match hasn't been found for Philadelphia's middle-of-the-order hitter.
"I don't want to talk about a particular player, but you look at the numbers Abreu puts up," Gillick said. "If you do a deal involving him, you've got to get a lot back. There are clubs that just don't have that much to give back."
Rightfully so, it would take a substantial haul to pry the two-time All-Star and first-time Gold Glove winner from the Phillies -- specifically a top-name pitcher, and few teams have an available bona fide stud to swap for the on-base machine. And if a team did, it's unclear whether that team would also be able to absorb the $30 million Abreu is owed over the next two seasons.
Taking it one step further, the Phillies would also have to get Abreu to waive his no-trade clause, as they did last month with Jim Thome when he was dealt to the Chicago White Sox.
Either way, Gillick also expressed some reluctance to take that much of an offensive hit to upgrade the pitching staff. Abreu's offense is difficult to replace, given that Thome is gone and first baseman Ryan Howard is still a bit of an unknown commodity.
"I wouldn't think we'd take that hit right now," Gillick said.
Instead, Abreu could suit up for a ninth season in Philadelphia. That doesn't mean Gillick isn't still exploring, according to rumblings throughout the Wyndham Anatole hotel, where the Winter Meetings are being held. One possibility had a potential swap with the Dodgers that could involve third baseman David Bell and either pitchers Derek Lowe or Brad Penny.
The Dodgers are one of a handful of teams that can absorb some salary, and a swap involving those names would be close to even financially.
Abreu staying doesn't mean Gillick spent Tuesday lounging by the pool, as he, assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and manager Charlie Manuel met with a steady stream of agents and team representatives in the lobby of the Wyndham Anatole.
"We'll continue to talk with clubs and try to address our needs, which is our pitching staff," Gillick said. "There's a possibility of one or two things, and we'll have to wait and see if they work out. They're contingent on some other things."
Without naming teams, Gillick said the Phillies had two potential deals, one involving a "higher-level" guy. Assuming the higher-level guy could represent the embers from a deal involving Abreu, the lesser deal might mean Jason Michaels.
Teams that have met with the Phillies over the past two days have been told they have an outfielder to spare from a group that includes Michaels, Endy Chavez and Shane Victorino. Philadelphia can trade one and turn another into a fourth outfielder.
The signing of Abraham Nunez has also made Tomas Perez available, should any team show interest.
Tuesday's speculation had Michaels headed to San Diego for a pitcher. Philadelphia expressed interest in Scott Linebrink, but learned he wasn't available, especially if closer Trevor Hoffman leaves. Another possibility could be right-hander Tim Stauffer, a former first-round pick who allowed 10 homers and compiled a 5.33 ERA in 14 starts in 2005. Another is Adam Eaton, though the Padres probably would want more for their projected No. 2 starter.
The right-handed Michaels hit .304 in 289 at-bats in 2005, though he hit six fewer homers than in 2004. His keen eye at the plate produced a .399 on-base percentage. He can play all three outfield positions, but spent most of his time in center field the past two seasons.
A major stumbling block for Gillick involves dealing some of the team's pitching prospects. Scott Mathieson and Gavin Floyd have been discussed, and the Phillies are reluctant to deal either.
"The major problem is who they want back," Gillick said. "We don't have the inventory of people who we can give back. There are some people we just can't move, even for a quick fix. You can't move a Mathieson or a Floyd. You're not going to get yourself out of the situation you're in right now with a high payroll by getting rid of guys who you have control over and you have control over their salaries."
No Prior: Cubs general manager Jim Hendry dismissed a published report that suggested the Phillies were sending Abreu to the Cubs for Mark Prior. While he was at it, he also shot down speculation involving Carlos Zambrano.
"Carlos Zambrano and Mark Prior are not going to be traded by the Chicago Cubs," Hendry said.
Hamels update: Prized pitching prospect Cole Hamels, who has had a variety of injuries over the past two seasons, had some inflammation in his lower back last week. Though he's expected to be ready for Spring Training, Gillick expects Hamels will be dealing with something his whole career.
"I don't think it will work itself out," Gillick said. "From what I gather, it may be something that's controllable, but it sounds like something that will always be there. They can't do a surgical procedure that will make it go away. You have to treat it and hope to reduce the inflammation in the area. The indication from him is that he's got some relief."
New hire: A.J. Hinch planned to someday morph from player to front-office executive. He just didn't expect the plan to kick in so early.
"I never thought it would happen at 31," he said with a laugh.
Hinch, who spent the past two seasons nurturing Philadelphia's young pitchers at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, joined the Arizona Diamondbacks last Monday as manager of Minor League operations.
Dressing in a sharp black suit and bopping from meeting to meeting is now the life for the Stanford University grad, a path he hopes will one day lead to a general manager position. The former first-round pick lives in Arizona and ended up with the Diamondbacks for a few other reasons. He and D-Backs GM Josh Byrnes have a mutual friend and general partner Jeff Moorad had been Hinch's agent.
Hinch entered the winter looking for a playing gig and found a few nibbles. But the Diamondbacks offered a jump-start toward a high-level position.
"I haven't felt this excited about an opportunity in years," he said. "It's a breath of fresh air that makes it OK. The player in me is sad to quit -- it's going to affect you, and there's no magic potion that makes that go away -- but this is a drastic change of scenery."
How drastic?
"I haven't had this many calls from agents since I was a junior in college," he said.

Source: http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/

Orioles Finalize Deal With Ramon Hernandez

Dec 13th,2005
BALTIMORE (AP) - On his first day as a member of the Baltimore Orioles, Ramon Hernandez spoke excitedly about working with a young pitching staff, hitting in Camden Yards and helping the team become a contender.
The free agent catcher also expressed optimism about spending the next four years with Miguel Tejada as a teammate.
"I'm excited, he's excited that we're going to play be together again. We played in Oakland for almost five years," Hernandez said Tuesday. "He's like, 'You're going to like it. Great people, great teammates, great organization.'"
That came as news to the Orioles, who are working to get the shortstop to back off his request to be traded. Angered over the team's inability to improve its pitching during the offseason, Tejada has suggested the best thing for him "will be a change of scenery."
Hernandez and Tejada are godfathers to each other's children, and the catcher hopes they will be teammates on opening day.
"We certainly would like that to be the case," said executive vice president Mike Flanagan, who in October was put in charge of ending the Orioles' run of eight straight losing seasons.
Hernandez said Tejada "told me he doesn't want to be traded. He told me he's very happy here."
Said Flanagan: "That was great to hear. It came out of (Tejada's) mouth."
Tejada, however, hasn't told that to Flanagan. What he has said is that he would be a lot happier if the Orioles added a starting pitcher or two.
Hernandez, who finalized a $27.5 million, four-year contract Tuesday, is a welcome addition. But Baltimore has a long way to go before it can compete with Boston and the New York Yankees in the AL East.
"All of us here are saying the same thing: Miguel wants to win, we want to win," Flanagan said. "He was talking about a No. 1 starter, and we want to do more than that. I think as we go down the road we intend to do things to improve the club, and as we get there, we'll both be able to smile at the end of it."
The Orioles perceived Hernandez to be one of the prize position players available in free agency.
"When we went into the offseason, part of our goal was to help the pitching, to help the defense and to help the offense. With the signing of Ramon Hernandez today, we feel like we've helped all three departments," Flanagan said. "With the addition of (pitching coach) Leo Mazzone, we couldn't be more excited about bringing a multidimensional player like Ramon in. This shows our intention of going forward and certainly building a championship team."
The 29-year-old Hernandez, who reached a preliminary agreement last week, hit .290 last season with 12 homers and 58 RBIs for the San Diego Padres.
The addition of Hernandez will mean less time behind the plate for Javy Lopez, who complained of sore knees toward the end of last season.
"I am not here to take his job," Hernandez said. "Whatever role they want me to do, I'll do it."
Hernandez gets $4.5 million next year, $6.5 million in 2007, $7.5 million in 2008 and $8 million in 2009. Baltimore has an $8.5 million option for 2010 with a $1 million buyout.
The six-year contract that Tejada signed before the 2004 season also expires in 2009. How long Hernandez and Tejada remain teammates, however, is undetermined.
Much depends on the Orioles' activity in the weeks ahead. Kevin Millwood remains available, although a team official said Baltimore spurned agent Scott Boras' request for a $60 million, five-year contract. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because negotiations are ongoing.
"There's still a good board of people that are available through free agency or trade," Flanagan said. "We'll just try to put the pieces together and come up with the best one we can. Getting Ramon was a good start, but by no means do I think we're finished with what we're going to do this winter."
If Tejada doesn't back of his demand to be traded, he will at least bring in considerable talent if dealt away.
"He certainly would have an outstanding market," Flanagan said. "But we really don't want to think of that alternative."

Source: http://www.wtopnews.com/

Padres visit with young cancer patients

12/08/2005
SAN DIEGO -- What was called the San Diego Padres' annual Holiday Caravan is now known as the "Holiday Giving Day."
And Thursday there was certainly a great deal of giving back to the community by the San Diego Padres.
The 11th annual "Holiday Giving Day" began with a visit to the UCSD/Children's Hospital by Padres Jake Peavy, Brian Giles, Geoff Blum, and Dave Roberts along with front-office personnel Sandy Alderson, Dick Freeman and Dave Winfield.
Former Cy Young Award winner Randy Jones and "The Swinging Friar" mascot were also part of the Padres' contingent that visited with and brought gifts and good cheer to young cancer patients and their families.
The players signed autographs, posed for pictures, passed out stuffed toys, talked individually with the children and even put their signatures on the Air Hockey table in the Activities Room.
A check for $100,000 was presented on behalf of the Padres Foundation for Children's Cindy Matters Fund for cancer research and care. With this the ninth year of giving, the Padres have donated more than $1,000,000 to this cancer care program.
The "Holiday Giving Day" continued with a visit to the nearby Ronald McDonald House, where a check for $25,000 was presented toward the creation of a Padres Family Computer Resource Room.
The day concluded with a visit to the Balboa Naval Medical Center's Fisher House, where a check of $15,800, net proceeds of the team's "For Those Who Serve" wristband campaign, was presented.
"I come down here not because the kids want to see me and meet me, but I love to watch them interact with our players and see how excited they are," said Padres president Dick Freeman. "And I also love to watch our players and how rewarding they find this whole thing. It's a two-way street. Hopefully the kids get everything out of it, and I know all our players do."
Indeed, the "two-way street" theme was echoed by all.
"This is just an awesome experience," said Giles of the visit to the children's oncology ward. "You come here trying to help [the kids] through the holidays and put a smile on their face. As a kid growing up looking at professional athletes as role models, I remember the kind of impact they had on me. It's fun for them, but the funny thing is that these kids, when we walk out of this hospital, they don't understand the impact they have on us."
Peavy got a call from a parent of a boy in ICU on Wednesday who made a special request for Jake to visit with him on Thursday. And there was certainly a lot of love and comfort in room 347, where Peavy made a most special and private visit.
"His dad called me and told me that his son had trouble making it through the night," said Peavy. "To walk into that situation is pretty moving, to watch a kid struggle for his life. I tell you what, you count your blessings that each and every day you get up. And when you come and get into the trenches with these kids to see what they're going through, it puts a whole new spin on things.
"It's a blessing for us to be able to put a smile on their faces," added Peavy. "But when you make a kid who is down and out smile and laugh, there aren't a whole lot of better feelings than that."
"It's tough for these kids now," said Roberts. "They are dealing with a lot of things in their lives right now. I think we get a lot of pleasure coming here and visiting. To get an opportunity to come here to Children's Hospital and make a bond with some of the kids and take them away from their everyday struggle for just a little bit is priceless."
Blum offered his own personal perspective.
"Yes, you come here to see the kids, but it's also an opportunity to give some uplifting spirit to the families, too, that are involved in this," said Blum. "I, having had three daughters [triplets] in the neo-natal units for two months, can appreciate how resilient these kids are, and how much they appreciate the littler things in life. These kids are going through some tough times, and if we can be a ray of sunlight, then we can do that. That's the easy part."
"Baseball is about families and families are about children," said Alderson. "Baseball has a terrific opportunity to have an impact on lives, and the kids who are here at this hospital really deserve all of our attention. It's just one of the best days of the year for the players and those of us in the front office, who came here and share a little bit of that with kids who have to endure so much."

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Padres, Devil Rays Exchange Dissapointments

December 7, 2005
In what amounts to a challenge trade of two former top prospects who haven't lived up to their promise, the Devil Rays sent righthander Dewon Brazleton to the Padres for third baseman Sean Burroughs.
Brazelton was the Devil Rays' Opening Day starter in 2005 but has not come close to reaching the potential that made him the third overall pick in the 2001 draft out of Middle Tennessee. The 6-foot-4 righthander went 1-8, 7.61 in 71 innings with 43 strikeouts and 60 walks in 2005. In his big league career, he is 8-23, 5.98 with 136 strikeouts and 142 walks in 253 innings.
Burroughs, the son of 1974 American League MVP Jeff Burroughs, has an even more distinguished pedigree than Brazeleton, having been on the map since helping Long Beach win a Little League World Series title in 1993. The ninth overall pick by the Padres out of high school in 1998, he vaulted through the low minors and was seen as the third baseman of the future after hitting .322/.386/.467 for Triple-A Portland in 2001. But his numbers have never matched up to his potential in the big leagues.
The 25-year-old Brazelton boasts a plus changeup with a late fade that is his best pitch. His fastball, which touched 96 mph when he was an amateur, now sits in the low 90s and is at best a tick above-average. Brazelton also throws a slider, but it is fringy, and his failure to develop the third pitch has been a big reason why he has been unable to become an elite pitcher.
Another factor hindering Brazelton's future is a lack of endurance. Having had knee problems in the past, his workout regimen between starts is limited and makes it more difficult for him to fight off fatigue and last through longer starts.
When Brazelton was sent down to Triple-A Durham May 11 after a particularly bad outing, he failed to immediately report and did not notify the team of his whereabouts. The Devil Rays placed him on the restricted list. Brazelton was reinstated June 3 and made an outing for Double-A Montgomery before returning to Durham. He had limited success with the Bulls, going 2-2, 3.72, and his disappearance in May added to the list of doubts about his future.
Tampa Bay media reported all season that a battle over visitation rights with his young son had also bothered Brazelton. Brazelton told the St. Petersburg Times those issues have been resolved.
Burroughs, a career .282 hitter in the big leagues, has always hit for a decent average, but has never been able to consistently drive the ball. Part of that can be attributed to knee problems, as he tore his lateral meniscus in late 2004, but he had never slugged above .402 before 2004 and was slugging .365 at the time of his injury.
Burroughs again opened the season as the Padres' third baseman in 2005, but his numbers fell off to .250/.318/.299 and he was replaced by Joe Randa. The Padres sent him back to Portland to try to get his stroke back, and he batted .290/.362/.427 there in 124 at-bats.
The Devil Rays don't have a long-term solution at third base--though they are pursuing Braves third-base prospect Andy Marte in trade talks--so Burroughs should get a shot to be their everyday third baseman, or at least the lefthanded part of a platoon.
The Padres made a similar trade in February when they sent infielder Jake Gautreau, a first-round pick in 2001, to Cleveland for third baseman Corey Smith, a first-round pick in 2000.

Source: http://www.baseballamerica.com/

Gillick confident Phils will fill needs

12/08/2005
DALLAS -- The Phillies arrived at the Winter Meetings on Sunday hoping to find a starting pitcher and a setup reliever.
The names of Bobby Abreu and Jason Michaels came up often in potential swaps, along with Minor League pitching prospects Gavin Floyd and Scott Mathieson. By Thursday afternoon, the Phillies left town with essentially the same roster, save for new potential bullpen member Chris Booker.
The Phillies thought on Tuesday they were close to making a few deals, with the Dodgers and Padres among the teams involved. But general manager Pat Gillick said those avenues dried up. While something might still happen, it depends on other factors with the teams involved.
"Something might not go exactly the way other teams wanted, either," Gillick said. "That might refocus things on something we talked about. We still might [make a trade]. Something happened [Wednesday] that we might be interested in. We'll see."
Deals done: Acquired RHP Chris Booker from the Tigers for cash following the Rule 5 Draft; offered arbitration to LHP Billy Wagner, who signed with the Mets, meaning the Phillies will get a first-round pick and a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft; declined to offer arbitration to RHP Ugueth Urbina, OF Kenny Lofton, OF Michael Tucker, C Todd Pratt and INF Ramon Martinez.
Rule 5 activity: Minor League phase: Selected INF Peeter Ramos (San Diego), C John Vanden Berg (Brewers) and OF Brian Burgamy (Padres). Lost OF Brad Correll to Pittsburgh and Fernando Quijada to Baltimore.
Goals accomplished: The Phillies are convinced that right-hander Ryan Madson is a viable starting option and they will likely give him a serious look this spring. Given a shot, Madson could prove the Phillies correct. He had success as a starter in the Minors and pitched out of the bullpen with the Phils out of necessity.
A subpar second half brought on in part because of overuse suggests Madson might be better served knowing when he'll pitch. His variety of three Major League pitches doesn't hurt, either.
Unfinished business: An eighth-inning setup man remains a necessity and will have to be addressed before Spring Training. Whomever the Phils choose for this role ideally will have closing experience in case Tom Gordon falters.
While Booker may win a job in the bullpen, the Phillies would like to add a few more alternatives to evaluate.
GM's bottom line: "I'm not disappointed. You have to keep grinding it. Something will happen." -- Gillick

Source: http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/

Matsui still missing

Sadaharu Oh is leaving the door unlocked for Hideki Matsui.
Oh announced all but one of Japan's players for the World Baseball Classic on Friday at Tokyo Dome Hotel, making it no secret that he wants the 30th roster spot to belong to the popular New York Yankees outfielder.
"He hasn't joined yet, but I am 100-percent sure (he will)," Oh said. "That is why we left the one roster spot open."
Final roster decisions won't have to be made until February, and Matsui could be added as late as "one to five days" before Asian pool play begins March 3 at Tokyo Dome, Major League Baseball Japan Managing Director Jim Small said.
Japan, China, Chinese Taipei and South Korea will play in Group A of the WBC, with the top two teams advancing to the second round in Anaheim, Calif.
"If he says no, we'll put someone else on the roster," Oh said. "Personally, I am willing to wait as long as it takes."
Oh said he had spoken with Matsui, who would be the fourth major leaguer on the roster along with Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, Chicago White Sox second baseman Tadahito Iguchi and San Diego Padres pitcher Akinori Otsuka.
Small said that major league teams could not prohibit their players from participating in the WBC, adding that fellow Yankees Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez all would be playing in the WBC.
The Japan Series champion Chiba Lotte Marines received strong representation among Oh's selections.
Oh, who manages the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, chose eight Marines and four from his own squad, which finished atop the Pacific League regular season standings and lost to Lotte in the second-stage playoffs.
Among the Marines is starting pitcher Shunsuke Watanabe, a submarine pitcher who was named most outstanding pitcher at the Japan Series for his complete-game shutout in Game 2.
Oh said that Watanabe, like the rest of the team, is a prototypical Japanese baseball player.
"I picked players who could play typical Japanese baseball," Oh said. "We think we can win by playing Japanese style baseball. There will be teams there who want to beat us."
Other notables on the roster are Japan Series Most Valuable Player Toshiaki Imae, Giants catcher Shinnosuke Abe, Hawks infielder Nobuhiko Matsunaka and Yakult Swallows outfielder Norichika Aoki.
A rules committee headed by San Diego Padres Chief Executive Officer Sandy Alderson will determine the regulations about pitch counts as well as addressing other procedural issues. Along with representatives from MLB and the MLB Players Association, Nippon Professional Baseball will have a spot on the committee.
Because the tournament takes place so close to the beginning of the season, many have expressed concerns about potential injuries for the players. Whatever the committee -- which will be formed in the next few days -- decides about pitch counts will be a hard, fast limit and not merely a guideline, Small said.
The WBC second round in Anaheim will be played March 12-15 at Angel Stadium. The semifinals and championship will be March 18 and 20, respectively, at San Diego's Petco Park.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Oxspring headed to Japan

12/10/2005
The Padres have sold the contract of right-handed pitcher Chris Oxspring to the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese Central League for a reported $550,000.
Replacing the 28-year-old Australian on the 40-man roster is catcher Pete Laforest, who was claimed off waivers from the Devil Rays. The Friars also agreed to terms with outfielder Jack Cust on a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.
Sent to the Pirates to complete the deal for infielder Bobby Hill was Class A pitcher Clayton Hamilton, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound right-hander from Penn State taken in the 17th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft. Hamilton hails from Beaver Falls, Pa., Joe Namath's hometown, so he'll be returning home.
Laforest, 27, batted .172 with one home run, three doubles and four RBIs in 25 games with Tampa Bay in 2005. He opened the season with the Devil Rays' Triple-A Durham affiliate, where he hit .270 with 21 home runs, 18 doubles, 52 RBIs and 41 runs scored. His home run total was the second-highest of any catcher in the International League last season.
Laforest, who is 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds, is from Hull, Quebec. The lone Major League receiver on Team Canada's initial roster for the inaugural World Baseball Classic in March, he should see extensive action in the first round against Team USA and Mexico.
With the Padres having acquired catcher Doug Mirabelli from the Red Sox in exchange for second baseman Mark Loretta at the Winter Meetings, they now have four receivers on the roster. Incumbent Miguel Olivo is expected to share most of the catching with Mirabelli, with Laforest and veteran David Ross competing for the third spot.
Over parts of two Major League seasons with the Devil Rays, Laforest has a career batting average of .170 with one homer and 10 RBIs in 44 games.
Originally drafted by the Expos in the 16th round of the 1995 First-Year Player Draft, Laforest has a career Minor League batting average of .258 with 101 homers, 143 doubles and 374 RBIs in 681 games between the Montreal (1995) and Tampa Bay (1997-2005) organizations.
Cust, 26, batted .257 with 19 home runs and 75 RBIs in 134 games for the A's Triple-A Sacramento affiliate. Cust's 19 homers led the club, while his 74 RBIs ranked second among team leaders.
Originally a first-round pick of the Diamondbacks in the 1997 First-Year Player Draft, Cust has a career batting average of .220 with five home runs, nine doubles and 19 RBIs in 66 games over parts of four Major League seasons with Arizona, Colorado and Baltimore.
Hamilton, 23, was 9-6 with a 2.88 ERA at Fort Wayne and 2-2 with a 5.14 ERA at Lake Elsinore in 2005.
While pitching in the independent Frontier League, Oxspring was signed on Oct. 31, 2000, out of a tryout camp for $1 by scout Bill Bryk, now the Padres' Minor League field coordinator. He appeared in five games with the Padres in September with no record and a 3.75 ERA and 11 strikeouts.
In five Minor League seasons in the Padres organization, Oxspring has a 32-18 record with a 3.60 ERA. He was 12-6 with Portland in '05, finishing seventh in the Pacific Coast League in ERA at 4.03 and fourth in strikeouts with 125 in 160 2/3 innings.
At the 2004 Athens Summer Games, Oxspring pitched so brilliantly for his native Australia he was named the International Baseball Federation's Male Player of the Year. He did not allow a run in 14 2/3 innings of two starts, shutting down favored Japan to thrust the Aussies into the gold-medal game against Cuba, taken by the Cubans.
With the addition of Laforest, the Padres' 40-man roster now stands at 35.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Eight Major Leaguers to play for Korea

12/10/2005
Baseball in Korea has come a long way since the country's director of the YMCA introduced the sport in 1905.
The list of 60 players that have agreed to participate for the Korean national team that will compete in the 2006 World Baseball Classic has the names of eight players currently belonging to Major League ballclubs, including Chan-Ho Park, who became the first Korean Major Leaguer in 1994.
Park, now a member of the San Diego Padres, began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, an organization known for its international activity. The Dodgers also have a representative on the Korean list in first baseman Hee-Seop Choi.
The other Major Leaguers listed are pitchers Jae Seo and Dae-Sung Koo of the Mets, Sun-Woo Kim and Byung-Hyun Kim of the Rockies and Jung Bong of the Reds, and outfielder Shin-Soo Choo of the Mariners.
The manager will be In Sik Kim, who played on the amateur level for four seasons and has been managing since 1982. His managerial stops have included the Hai Tai Tigers, Ssang Bang Wool Raiders, Doo San Bears and currently the Han Wha Eagles. Kim also has managed in international competition. He skippered in the Korea-Japan Super Game in 1995, led Team Korea in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney to the bronze medal and was at the helm when the team won the gold medal in the 2002 Busan Asian Games.
The inaugural World Baseball Classic, a 16-team tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), will take place March 3-20 and feature the world's best players competing for their home countries and territories for the first time. Fans will be able to follow all the games live exclusively online at MLB.com.
First-round action will be played at four sites. Pool A, consisting of Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei and China, will meet at the Tokyo Dome, March 3-5. Pool B, featuring USA, Canada, Mexico and South Africa will play at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Scottsdale Stadium, Spring Training home of the San Francisco Giants, March 7-10. Pool C, which consists of Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama and the Netherlands, will play at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, March 7-10. Pool D, featuring the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Australia and Italy, will play at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, March 7-10.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to the second round, which takes place March 12-15 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico and Angel Stadium in Anaheim. The semifinals and finals will be held at San Diego's PETCO Park, March 18-20.
Tickets go on sale Dec. 10 for games in Puerto Rico and December 12 for games in the United States. For more information, go to worldbaseballclassic.com.

Source: http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/

Padres outfielder agrees to sign for $2.25 million

December 12, 2005

The Padres and Dave Roberts have agreed on the basics of a one-year contract worth $2.25 million, cementing the club's leadoff hitter into place for 2006.
The Padres considered trading Roberts after they acquired center fielder Mike Cameron last month. Now Roberts is ticketed for left field, where he's made 49 career starts.
The deal is expected to be announced this week, once the sides work out a bonus plan based on plate appearances.
Roberts, 33, gives the Padres a leadoff hitter whose run-creating talents exceed his durability.
Among the 11 National League leadoff men who made at least 450 plate appearances last year, he finished fifth in on-base percentage (.352) and a surprising fourth in slugging percentage (career-best .428 overall). His combined on-base and slugging rates (.778) ranked third among NL leadoff men, tying Roberts with Rafael Furcal, the shortstop recently signed to a three-year, $39 million pact by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Roberts started only 101 games, however, and is a poor bet to start many more in 2006. The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder has averaged only 103 starts in three seasons as a regular. Injuries to his hamstrings, groin and a knee have caused him to miss games since he started a career-high 111 games for L.A. in 2002.
Even when Roberts was healthy, manager Bruce Bochy often benched him against left-handed pitchers. GM Kevin Towers said rookie Ben Johnson, a right-handed slugger with good speed, probably will play left field when Roberts is out. Beyond Roberts, the leadoff candidates are second baseman Bobby Hill, shortstop Khalil Greene, utilityman Eric Young and perhaps Cameron.
Roberts' salary last year was $1.35 million. The Rancho Buena Vista High alum is in the priciest arbitration class and can become a free agent in November.
The Padres obtained Roberts last offseason. Like the club, he enjoyed a torrid May. His 21-RBI binge in a 30-game stretch coincided with a 24-6 surge, starting in late April, that led to the team's first division title since 1998.

Source: http://www.signonsandiego.com/

Bonds' fate still key to Giants

13-DEC-05
If you tried and tried and still couldn't get all the way to "blockbuster" with the San Francisco Giants' signing of Matt Morris to pitch, fall in line. We'll have someone over to lay hands on you shortly.
This is a classic Giants move, or at least one straight out of the Brian Sabean School of Mid-Moderate Risk. Morris is going to cost a fair chunk of change (a guaranteed $27 million over three years) for what he might deliver as a 30-something starting pitcher, but with San Francisco's rotation looking like it ought to be coached by Morris Buttermaker, something had to happen.
Hey, 75-87 doesn't seem so ludicrous when it only adds up to seven games out in the National League West, as it did for the Giants this year. If you put Morris together with incoming relievers Steve Kline and Tim Worrell, and bring Barry Bonds back into the offensive mix, division contention is no longer such a nutty pizza dream, is it?
Still, you can't get all the way to "blockbuster" with Monday's news. I'm with you. Here are three reasons why:
1.) Morris, nearly 40 games over .500 in his big-league career, went 6-10 down the stretch last season with a St. Louis team that was winning 100 games. Creepy. He lost his last five regular-season decisions and finished with a 4.11 ERA that is half a run above his career average (and he was at 4.72 the year before that).
2.) St. Louis manager Tony La Russa and his pitching coach, Dave Duncan, rarely miss a trick, yet the Cardinals did little to entice Morris to remain with their division-winning unit. Giants catcher Mike Matheny, himself a former Card and a good friend of Morris, even described St. Louis' arbitration offer to Morris (two years, $13 million) as a "slap in the face." Why?
3.) Well ... when in doubt about pitching, see No. 2 above. Just not crazy about the sound of the Cards' indifference to the man Giants general manager Brian Sabean describes as "a winner," that's all.
So we come here not to bury Morris, but neither to outright praise him. He's an "innings" guy, whom they said about Brett Tomko, and he is a quality pitcher, which they said about Kirk Rueter.
Morris, whose penchant for giving up home runs won't be such a crippler at SBC Park, is solid behind Jason Schmidt in the rotation, and after that it's all about the futures market. A year ago, people couldn't stop burbling about Brad Hennessey; now, it's Matt Cain's turn to be the Next Great Starter. Cain and Noah Lowry appear to have starting spots waiting for them.
And that's it! That's your Giants update for another offseason.
Actually, if you're handicapping the N.L. West, it's the Padres and Giants, still in that order. Everybody else is playing for third, and not even the hype machine can make the Dodgers better than they are.
Sandy Alderson is making sure no one in the Gaslamp Quarter misunderstands who is running the Padres. He's turning the roster inside out and improving it along the way. San Diego got better behind the plate with Doug Mirabelli over the outgoing Ramon Hernandez, better at third base with a long-in-the-tooth Vinny Castilla arriving and erratic Sean Burroughs departing.
Geoff Blum makes San Diego better. Mike Cameron makes the Padres better. They'll miss Mark Loretta and (it says here) Mark Sweeney, but with Alderson keeping Brian Giles, Dave Roberts and especially Trevor Hoffman in the fold, the Padres have a chance to be very good.
With all due respect to Morris, who is known as a great clubhouse guy in addition to being a give-me-the-ball type of starter, the Giants of 2006 are still going to come down to Bonds. The pitching was sub-mediocre last season, it's true, but surely no one failed to notice that Felipe Alou's team finished next to last in the N.L. in runs scored. Only the Washington Nationals were less productive.
If Bonds comes back to anything approaching his past output, then the Giants will be able to focus their attention on the job Morris and Kline and Worrell are doing on the mound. Bonds in the lineup means more pitches for Moises Alou to hit, more chances for Randy Winn to score.
Looking back, you realize that Bonds' signing was one of the most out-of-character deals this San Francisco ownership group has ever devised. Certainly under Sabean, the team has leaned more toward solid if unspectacular veterans (Benito Santiago, Edgardo Alfonzo, et al., than toward the true massive talent (Vlad Guerrero, for one).
Matt Morris arrived on Monday with his 101-62 career record and that 6-10 header he took to the finish for St. Louis in 2005. He's a perfectly fine pickup. They'll need a Bonds-type season from Bonds to turn it into a blockbuster.

Source: http://www.shns.com/

Red Sox promote two as co-GMs

December 13, 2005
The Boston Red Sox promoted two of Theo Epstein’s former assistants to be co-general managers on Monday while offering to “keep the light on” if the most successful GM in franchise history wants to lend a hand.
“Certainly Theo is a good friend of all of us, and he’s worked very closely with these guys in the past,” team president Larry Lucchino said after splitting the general manager’s job between farm director Ben Cherington and assistant GM Jed Hoyer.
“The door has been really ajar for some time, and until Theo goes to work for another baseball organization, we’ll keep the light on in the window with the possibility of him coming back and helping us.”
Epstein walked away from the team on Halloween. But even without a GM, the Red Sox have been one of the most active teams this off-season, making major trades to acquire Florida pitcher Josh Beckett and unload struggling shortstop Edgar Renteria.
Hoyer and Cherington were among the so-called Four Horsemen who made those deals, along with special assistants Bill Lajoie and Craig Shipley. Lucchino, who spent a month evaluating outside GM candidates, turned in-house after the winter meetings in Dallas ended last week.
Both Hoyer and Cherington acknowledged that they weren’t fully prepared for the GM job on their own. “I wanted to experience a little bit more in baseball before taking on that job by myself,” said Cherington, who gave Hoyer his first job with the Red Sox.
The 32-year-old Hoyer has been working mostly with major-league transactions. Cherington, 31, has focused on the minor leaguers. They’ll maintain that division, though overlap is inevitable when the team, for example, wants to trade prospects for a major-leaguer.
“It made sense, given their personal compatibility and their experience, to do it together,” Lucchino said. “It made sense for us to divide things up.
“If there’s a better way to build a mousetrap, we’ll try that, too. But this is the way we’re committed to now. There’s more than one way to structure a front office.”
Lucchino, Hoyer and Cherington all downplayed the possibility that the co-GMs would reach a stalemate and need a deciding vote. Ownership has always had the final say, they said.
“There’s always more than one person involved in a deal,” Cherington said. “We’ll serve as a system of checks and balances to some degree.”
Other teams have tried co-GMs, most recently the Orioles with Mike Flanagan and Jim Beattie. The experiment did not work in Baltimore, Lucchino said, in part because the two hadn’t worked together and didn’t complement each other’s skills.
“I don’t think it’s unprecedented,” Lucchino said. “It’s unusual. But at this point, for the Red Sox, I think it’s the way to go.”
Lucchino would not comment on the terms of the agreements with the two New Hampshire natives — even to say how long their contracts will run — except to say they will have some role in the organization “for years to come.” That did nothing to dampen speculation that Epstein would come in above them.
Lucchino said it was up to the GMs to decide who would advise them.
“I think it’s probably fair to say there has been general discussion about Theo coming back in some shape or form,” Lucchino said. “It’s premature to discuss exactly what role, if any, Theo would have.”
Said Cherington: “I’d be excited about the opportunity to work with him again.”
“We’re not committed to this long term,” Cherington said. “It could be change is needed.”
Once the youngest GM in baseball history and still the only one to build a World Series champion in Boston, Epstein turned down a three-year, $4.5 million contract extension to replace the one that expired Oct. 31. Although he did not give his reasons, he said he could no longer could give his “entire heart and soul to the organization.”
“Theo’s an immensely talented guy who’s proved himself over the last several years here,” Lucchino said Monday. “And if he is comfortable and happy and feels he can be productive in this organization, in this structure, we would welcome him.”
Padres re-sign Roberts: Padres leadoff hitter Dave Roberts agreed to a $2.25 million contract for 2006, and San Diego closed in on a $1 million deal for reliever Doug Brocail. Roberts can make another $250,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances.
Roberts played center field for the Padres last year but will be moved to left field this season to make room for Mike Cameron, who was obtained from the New York Mets on Nov. 18. Left fielder Ryan Klesko is being moved to first base.
Brocail, who pitched for the Padres from 1992-94, must pass a physical this week before his deal is finalized. He pitched with Texas last year.
Rincon, Cards agree to deal: The St. Louis Cardinals took a step toward rebuilding their bullpen, reaching a preliminary agreement on a two-year, $2.9 million contract with free-agent pitcher Ricardo Rincon.
The contract is contingent on the 35-year-old left-hander passing a physical. Rincon’s agent, Dave Stewart, said his client chose the Cardinals over the New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, White Sox and Oakland Athletics. Rincon played for the Athletics the last three seasons.
Easley to join D’backs: Free-agent utility infielder Damion Easley agreed to a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Easley hit .240 with 9 homers and 30 RBI last season for the Florida Marlins. A sprained right ankle ended his season in September.
Ponson gets five days in jail: Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Sidney Ponson was sentenced to five days in jail after being convicted of driving while impaired. District Judge James Mann ordered Ponson to report this afternoon to the Central Booking and Intake Center in Baltimore, where he is expected to serve his sentence. Once the sentence is complete, he will not serve any time on probation.
The judge also fined Ponson $500, plus court costs and fees totaling less than $60. Maryland Transportation Authority Police arrested Ponson on Aug. 25 on Interstate 95 in Baltimore. Authorities said Ponson was stopped for tailgating. He was charged with driving under the influence and driving while impaired. One week later, the Orioles terminated Ponson’s contract.

Source: http://www.dailyherald.com/

Padres buy Pena from ’Nadoes

Tuesday, December 13, 2005
The Worcester Tornadoes officially sold the contract of relief pitcher Eddie Pena to the San Diego Padres yesterday. The 22-year old right-hander, who last season went 2-4 with a 5.08 ERA for the Tornadoes, is expected to be invited to spring training with the Padres. Pena was signed during training camp last year after graduating from Georgetown University, where he was a four-year starter, leading the Hoyas in strikeouts for three seasons, with a high of 75 his senior year. In his first professional season, he became one of Worcester manager Rich Gedman’s primary stoppers out of the bullpen, striking out 60 in 67 1/3 innings. Shortly after the Tornadoes won the Can-Am League championship, the Telegram & Gazette reported Pena reached an agreement with San Diego to attend spring training. The Padres also purchased the contract of right-hander Jon Koch from the Brockton Rox. The 22-year old Koch was 5-5 with a 3.45 ERA for the Rox, with 62 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings. Padres leadoff hitter and former Red Sox outfielder Dave Roberts agreed to a $2.25 million contract with San Diego for 2006, and the Padres closed in on a $1 million deal for reliever Doug Brocail. Right-hander Matt Morris agreed to a three-year contract with the San Francisco Giants, leaving the St. Louis Cardinals after nine seasons. … The Cardinals took a step toward rebuilding their bullpen, reaching a preliminary agreement on a $2.9 million, two-year contract with free agent pitcher Ricardo Rincon. Left-hander Kenny Rogers and the Detroit Tigers finalized their $16 million, two-year contract.

Source: http://www.telegram.com/

Nationals sign Eischen, Fick

12/13/2005
Last year, Fick hit .265 with three homers and 30 RBI in 93 games with the San Diego Padres. The 31-year-old is a career .260 hitter with 65 home runs and 299 RBI in parts of nine seasons spent with Detroit, Atlanta, Tampa Bay and two different stints with the Padres. He can play catcher, first base and the outfield. Eischen, 35, will be back for his fifth consecutive season with the franchise. The lefty reliever went 2-1 with a 3.22 ERA while stranding 40-of-48 (83.3%) inherited runners in 57 games. In 302 games over nine seasons Eischen is 11-8 with three saves and a 4.42 ERA.

Source: http://www.wkrc.com/

Nomar, White draw interest from Astros

Dec. 14, 2005
Not long after signing catcher Brad Ausmus and infielder Mike Lamb to contracts Tuesday, the Astros met with free-agent outfielder Rondell White and expressed interest in two-time American League batting champion Nomar Garciaparra.
Astros owner Drayton McLane confirmed Tuesday that he and club president Tal Smith, general manager Tim Purpura and manager Phil Garner visited with White and his wife at Minute Maid Park.
"He was in town, and we had a very good discussion with him, and we'll see where that leaves us," said McLane, who confirmed the club's interest in free-agent shortstop Garciaparra.
Garciaparra, who won a pair of batting titles with Boston, spent most of last season on the disabled list with the Chicago Cubs. The Astros have had discussions with Garciaparra's agent Arn Tellem, who didn't return a phone message Tuesday.
Garciaparra, 32, is a career .320 hitter who appeared in only 62 games last season because of a severe groin injury, batting .283 with nine homers and 30 RBIs. The New York Yankees also are reportedly interested in Garciaparra, who is married to former U.S. soccer star Mia Hamm.
White, 33, has a .289 career average with 187 home runs in 13 seasons with Montreal, the Cubs, Yankees, San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers. He played in only 97 games for the Tigers last year after dislocating his shoulder Aug. 14 and hit .313 with 12 homers and 53 RBIs.
White, who also has been contacted by Minnesota and Baltimore, is a left fielder, and Garciaparra is athletic enough to play left field. Both would satisfy the Astros' need for a righthanded bat.
Purpura wouldn't comment on specific free agents.
"If there's an offensive player out there we feel would fit with this ballclub, we've inquired about him," he said.
Meanwhile, the Astros re-signed Ausmus to a two-year deal worth $7.5 million and Lamb to a one-year deal worth $1.7 million.
Both of the contracts have incentives.
Ausmus, who lives in San Diego in the offseason, was offered a contract by the Padres but decided to return to the Astros.
"All the while my heart was telling me to go back to Houston," Ausmus said. "I think the logical choice would have been to come to San Diego because it's easier on my family, especially on my children being in school and less travel for them.
"But they kind of came over to my side, and I didn't really see a reason not to go back to Houston."
Ausmus, 36, hit .258 last season and led all National League catchers in hits after the All-Star break while helping the Astros reach the World Series.
The Astros made re-signing Ausmus a priority this offseason instead of pursuing free-agent catchers Ramon Hernandez or Bengie Molina.
"I think he's one of those types of players that you can't really appreciate him from the numbers," Purpura said.
Ausmus spent the past two seasons catching Roger Clemens and would like to see Clemens return to the Astros, who didn't offer him arbitration and can't sign him until May 1.
"I've been exchanging messages with him and let him know it wouldn't bother me if he waits to May 1, just as long as he's back," Ausmus said.
Lamb hit .236 last season with 12 homers and 53 RBIs in 125 games, mostly at first base.
"I'm happy that something got done, because I'm comfortable there, and I know that Phil likes me, and I know I'm going to get a chance to contribute," Lamb said.
The signing of Lamb leaves the Astros with five remaining arbitration-eligible players — closer Brad Lidge, third baseman Morgan Ensberg, shortstop Adam Everett, reliever Dan Wheeler and backup catcher Raul Chavez.

Source: http://www.chron.com/