DODGERS SCALE DOWN STRATEGY.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer Learning the painful lesson that teams aren't willing to absorb a $15 million contract for a free-agency-bound pitcher and a marginal infielder, the Dodgers altered their plan of attack. No longer will the Dodgers mandate a club take either Jose Vizcaino or Eric Young Eric Young can refer to:
``We might have to do some deals that would lead to us doing other deals,'' Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone
Kevin Malone is a fictional character from the US television series, The Office. He is played by Brian Baumgartner. said. ``What we were looking at is trying to get it all done at once. I think what we're going to have to focus on is beginning the process, putting ourselves in position to get this accomplished on a step-by-step basis.'' That's what the Dodgers will attempt to do today as they speak with various clubs, including the Colorado Rockies For the National Hockey League team (1976 – 1982), now known as the New Jersey Devils, see . The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. They are in the West Division of the National League. and Chicago Cubs. Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd Dan O'Dowd has served as the General Manager of the Colorado Rockies since September 20, 1999. Before being hired by the Rockies he spent 15 years working for the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians, working his way from Accounts Manager to Director of Baseball Operations / is expected to make another heavy push to acquire Valdes, who will be a free agent after the 2000 season and, being arbitration eligible, is expected to earn approximately $6 million this upcoming season. The Rockies are dangling right-handed relievers Manny Aybar Manuel Antonio Aybar (born May 4, 1972 in Bani, Dominican Republic) is a pitcher with Major League Baseball experience who currently is playing in Korean Baseball Organization. He bats and throws right handed. or Jose Jimenez Jose Jimenez is the name of:
Previously, talks with the Rockies broke off when the Dodgers insisted they take either Young or Vizcaino. Young is owed $9 million over two years and Vizcaino, a sparsely used utility player for the Dodgers last season, is owed $3.5 million. The Dodgers are also trying to peddle Young to the St. Louis Cardinals For the National Football League team that played in St. Louis from 1960 to 1987, see . The St. Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards" or "the Redbirds") are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. , who balked balk v. balked, balk·ing, balks v.intr. 1. To stop short and refuse to go on: The horse balked at the jump. 2. because they didn't want to pay all of Young's contract. However, the Cubs have become an option for the Dodgers. Sources said Chicago will consider Young, who played for new manager Don Baylor in Colorado. But again, the contract is the issue, and Malone said the Dodgers aren't yet willing to eat salary. The Cubs traded infielder Manny Alexander to Boston for outfielder Damon Buford, and Baylor said the next step is to find an infielder. ``It could be a glove guy, or it could be an offensive weapon and a glove guy,'' Baylor said. The Cubs also need starting pitching, and reports are they talked about re-signing Steve Trachsel. But the Cubs could get Valdes for about the same price as Trachsel in 2000, then attempt to sign him to a multiyear deal. If the Dodgers can trim $10 million from the payroll by the end of the winter meetings by moving Valdes and Young or Vizcaino, Malone said they could get back into the bidding for free agent left-handed reliever Arthur Rhodes. Also, the Rangers were close to signing free-agent third baseman Todd Zeile, but a source said the Mets were trying to make a late run. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion