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Sporting News, The, Nov 16, 1998 by Mike DiGiovanna, Peter Schmuck, Michael Silverman, Scott Gregor, Steve Herrick, Tom Gage, Luciana Chavez, John Millea, Jon Heyman, Steve Kettmann, Marc Topkin, Kevin Lonquist, Tom Maloney, Pedro Gomez

Anaheim

COMING ATTRACTIONS: Ramon Ortiz and Mark Harriger, the first power-pitching righthanders the team has produced in years, are inching toward the rotation. Ortiz, a 23-year-old Dominican, returned from a season-ending elbow injury to hit 93 mph on the radar gun during instructional league play. Harriger, a 23-year-old Californian, has hit 93 in the Arizona Fall League after a 13-9 season at the Class A level. Ortiz is the wild card. It appeared his career might be over when he broke his pitching elbow last May--after a 1997 season in which he used a 95-mph fastball and 86-mph slider to amass 225 Class A strikeouts. But Ortiz increased his pitch count to 85 by the end of instructional league play and got stronger every week. Barring a setback, Ortiz could start the season at Class AAA and Harriger could join him in the Edmonton rotation.

STAFF NEWS: Dick Pole was hired to replace Marcel Lachemann as the team's pitching coach. Pole spent last season as Boston's bullpen coach and was San Francisco's pitching coach from 1993 to 1997. Lachemann will stay with the Angels and oversee their minor league teams. The team also announced that six coaches would return next season: Rod Carew (hitting), Joe Maddon (bench), Larry Bowa (third base), George Hendrick (first base), Joe Coleman (bullpen) and Mick Billmeyer (bullpen coordinator). --Mike DiGiovanna

Baltimore

TOUGH DECISIONS: New G.M. Frank Wren would like to reduce the team's susceptibility to injuries, which casts doubt on whether he'll work hard to re-sign veteran OF Eric Davis. Wren said the decision on Dams would be a tough one, because Davis has emerged as the inspirational leader of the club but remains of debatable durability. Davis ended up playing far more than expected last year and finished the season ranked second in the league with a .327 batting average, but his desire for a two-year, $8 million contract could be a major obstacle. The team might prefer to use that money toward a major free agent, perhaps Bernie Williams or Brian Jordan.

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE: Class AA 1B Calvin Pickering recently was named the team's minor league player of the year. Pickering batted .309 with 31 homers and 114 RBIs and made a good impression in the majors during a September call-up, but it is unlikely that he will start on the big-league team next year, even if free-agent 1B Rafael Palmeiro does not return. Pickering gives the club a risky alternative to a high-priced free agent, but the team is unlikely to experiment with youth at a run-production position. However, second base prospect Jerry Hairston could get a look if the team is unable to sign free-agent 2Bs Jose Offerman or Delino DeShields. --Peter Schmuck

Boston

THE VAUGHN SAGA: The team says signing Mo Vaughn is a top priority. G.M. Dan Duquette and his staff met with Vaughn's agent in Orlando late last month, but they did not make their free-agent first baseman an offer. Instead, the Red Sox used the meeting to make sure Vaughn still was sincere about keeping the Red Sox on his list of possibilities for next season. Once it was established Vaughn would listen to Red Sox overtures, Duquette told Vaughn's camp to get some offers from other clubs and let the Red Sox know what the marketplace was like. Vaughn's agent scoffed at the idea, saying the Red Sox were capable of figuring out the marketplace for themselves. Team CEO John Harrington said the club would not offer Vaughn Mike Piazza-type money ($13 million a year). Last Sunday, it appeared the first offer had hit the table. The Los Angeles Times reported the Angels had offered Vaughn a six-year deal worth more than $70 million.

LEWIS SIGNED: The team signed OF Darren Lewis to a three-year contract, reportedly worth $7 million. The signing took some of the air out of rumors the club would pursue free-agent CF Bernie Williams, but the possibility of shifting Lewis to right with Williams in center is a solution any Sox fan could live with. Lewis had previously declined his $1.1 million option to return next season. --Michael Silverman

Chicago

TOUGH CALL: If Wil Cordero plays well for another team next season, blame general manager Ron Schueler. Despite lobbying by manager Jerry Manuel to keep the first baseman, Schueler decided not to pick up Cordero's $2 million option for 1999. "I just didn't see the big commitment as far as conditioning was concerned and I didn't see any consistency with me bat," Schueler says. With Cordero out of the picture, Greg Norton will get a chance to win the first base job if the team doesn't sign a veteran. A pair of minor leaguers, Mario Valdez and converted 3B Carlos Lee, also might get a look.

GOING, GOING ...: With Albert Belle and Robin Ventura expected to leave via free agency, the team's offense could be significantly weakened. The Yankees appear to be the favorite to sign Belle, while the Padres, Mets and Indians are among the seven or eight teams looking at Ventura.... LHP Jim Abbott is thankful to the team for giving him a chance and would like to stay with the club. But team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has an acrimonious relationship with Abbott's agent and money might become an issue. Another problem could be Ventura's status. Abbott and Ventura are best friends and would like to play for the same team. Starting pitching is a major need for the club, and Abbott would figure to secure a spot in the rotation. --Scot Gregor