Psst to G.M.s: make these deals

Sporting News, The, March 22, 2004 by Ken Rosenthal

The season is fast approaching, and the deficiencies of some teams are so apparent, it makes me want to scream. Not that any general manager wants my advice, but as I make my way through the Cactus League, several potential trades pop into my sun-baked head:

* Reds center fielder Ken Griffey and $15,5 million for Mariners center fielder Randy Winn and Class AAA righthander Rett Johnson.

The exchange of cash and contracts would leave the Mariners with a $40 million commitment to Griffey over the next five years, much of it deferred. Even at $8 million per season, the risk would be enormous, especially for a franchise that frets daily over the condition of another oft-injured slugger, Edgar Martinez. Griffey, 34, has appeared in only 234 games the past three seasons.

The Mariners, however, need a better lefthanded cleanup hitter than Raul Ibanez to hit between Bret Boone and Martinez. A 5-3 loss to the Angels in a recent exhibition game highlighted Seattle's offensive inferiority. The Angels scored three runs on back-to-back homers by Vladimir Guerrero and Jose Guillen. Such a defeat in the regular season could demoralize the Mariners, who must fight for every run.

Griffey is open to returning to Seattle, according to his agent, Brian Goldberg. The Reds would receive not only Winn, a solid all-around player, but also Johnson, a well-regarded prospect. A trade such as this might be Cincinnati's best chance to create greater payroll flexibility--the Yankees and Braves, the two other teams on Griffey's wish list, do not need an outfielder.

Granted, the Mariners might be better off using the approximately $6.5 million they saved from Kaz Sasaki's return to Japan to acquire a hitter near the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Then again, the Angels might leave them buried by then, and it's doubtful the M's would outbid the Yankees or some other big-spending team for Kansas City's Carlos Beltran next winter.

* Rangers second baseman Alfonso Soriano and $1.65 million for Giants shortstop Neifi Perez, outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds, Class AAA outfielder Todd Linden and Class A righthander Matt Cain.

This deal would make the Giants the clear favorites in the wide-open N.L. West. Soriano, who has lobbied to remain at second base with the Rangers, could play short or replace the platoon of Hammonds and Michael Tucker in right field. Soriano's change in positions would be a small price to pay for the privilege of hitting in front of Barry Bonds. The Giants would give up two of their best prospects, but they need to think short-term while Bonds still is the most feared hitter in the game. San Francisco's payroll would remain unchanged--the Rangers would take Perez and Hammonds for a combined $3.75 million, and Texas' $1.65 million payment to the Giants would cover the remainder of the difference in Soriano's $5.4 million salary. Soriano, 28, would be under the Giants' control through 2006.

The Rangers parted with Carl Everett and Ugueth Urbina in similar trades last season, essentially swallowing contracts to receive better prospects. Perez would play shortstop, enabling Michael Young to return to second, where he belongs.

* Pirates righthander Kris Benson and $3 million for White Sox righthander Jon Rauch and Class AAA LHP Josh Stewart.

Benson will be traded, perhaps by opening day. The Pirates' problem is finding a taker for a pitcher who is A) coming off shoulder trouble; B) perceived to lack mental toughness; and C) being paid $6 million in his walk year.

The Sox, who would receive half of Benson's salary in the deal, still would need to raise their payroll from $64 million. They were burned the last time they swapped pitchers with the Pirates, parting with Kip Wells and Josh Fogg for Todd Ritchie. But Benson would make their rotation the deepest in the mediocre A.L. Central.

The Cardinals, perhaps the team most interested in Benson, also are in a payroll bind. The Pirates could keep Benson, hope to build his value and then move him in July, but they would be risking that he would stay healthy. By paying a sizable chunk of his salary, they might get better players.

Rauch, 25, has gone from top prospect to odd man out, and he wouldn't be an ideal fit for the Pirates, who need hitters more than pitchers. But by increasing their depth, the Pirates could deal from strength later.

* Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts for Cardinals righthander Danny Haren.

It might seem counterproductive for the pitching-hungry Cardinals to trade Haren, but they badly need a second baseman and leadoff hitter, and the additions of righthanders Jason Marquis and Adam Wainwright in the J.D. Drew trade created newfound pitching depth.

The Cardinals were stunned when free agent Roberto Alomar rejected their offer of more than $2 million and signed with the Diamondbacks for $650,000, plus $350,000 deferred without interest. Roberts, 26, is 10 years younger than Alomar, more affordable and a switch hitter. The Orioles still would be set at second with Jerry Hairston and prospect Mike Fontenot, who got off to a big start this spring.