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American League
Sporting News, The, Nov 9, 1998
Anaheim
LOOKING FOR PITCHERS: The team appears willing to increase its payroll enough to pursue at least one premier free agent this winter, and G.M. Bill Bavasi has already contacted the agents for Randy Johnson and Todd Stottlemyre to express interest in the two pitchers. However, this in no way guarantees the team will procure a pitcher who is good enough to become the ace of thee staff and propel the Angels into the playoffs for the first time since 1986. Padres ace Kevin Brown is considered the jewel of this year's free-agent class, and his price tag--the righthander could command a four-year deal in the $53 million range--is probably too steep for the Angels. But that doesn't mean the competition for the next tier of players, such as Johnson and Stottlemyre, will be any less fierce. Or that those players will be much cheaper.
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POTENTIAL MOVES: If the team can't land a top pitcher, it may bid for free-agent 1B Mo Vaughn, with the intention of moving Darin Ersted from first to the outfield and trading Jim Edmonds or Garret Anderson for pitching. "But that's not definite," manager Terry Collins says. The Yankees, in anticipation of losing OF Bernie Williams, reportedly have discussed a potential deal with the Angels that would send Edmonds to New York for P Andy Pettitte, a trade the Angels likely would jump at. -- Mike DiGiovanna
Baltimore
THINGS TO DO: New G.M. Frank Wren moved into his office at Camden Yards last week and immediately began tackling the mountain of offseason business facing the Orioles. The workload may be daunting, but Wren can take comfort in the knowledge that owner Peter Angelos has never asked his front-office staff to work on a tight budget.... The top free-agent catchers are Yankees veteran Joe Girardi and the Padres' Carlos Hernandez. The team probably will make contact with both players, but the likely availability of Mets C Todd Hundley could be of great interest to the Orioles, who will be looking hard for an alternative to the Chris Hoiles/Lenny Webster platoon.
BRING IN BERNIE? There has been some speculation that the Orioles will show interest in Yankees free-agent OF Bernie Williams, though it seems unlikely they would commit $70 million or more for a center fielder just a year after signing Brady Anderson to a long-term deal. Of course, the club could move Anderson to left field or try to deal him to create room both in the lineup and on the payroll, but there appear to be more pressing concerns. The club has a greater need for a quality second baseman, now that it is apparent Roberto Alomar is not interested in returning. Look for Wren to show interest in Delino DeShields and Jose Offerman. -- Peter Schmuck
Boston
CONSIDERING BELLE: While the team was preparing to make Mo Vaughn a contract offer this week, it was also planning for his departure. One option is OF Albert Belle, who became a free agent because of a loophole in his contract with the White Sox. The team reportedly has contacted Belle's agent. Belle, 32, would be a strong replacement for Vaughn. He is coming off an outstanding season in which he hit .328 with 49 homers and 152 RBIs, hitting .387 with 31 homers in the second half. But it may cost as much to sign Belle as it would to retain Vaughn. With Mike Piazza's seven-year, $91 million contract as the new bench mark, Vaughn and Belle each will command more than $12 million a season. The team also is looking at Yankees free-agent OF Bernie Williams. A Gold Glove winner, Williams would give the team solid defense in center and a bona fide No. 3 batter. A cheaper solution could be Cardinals free-agent OF Brian Jordan, who could play right or center.
SOUTHPAWS' STATUS: The team declined a 1999 option on LHP Steve Avery. A two-time 18-game winner for the Braves, Avery was a major disappointment in his two seasons in Boston. Avery and LHP Pete Schourek have said they would rather pitch in the N.L. Schourek filed for free agency and is expected to leave. LHP Butch Henry also filed for free agency, but the team is trying to re-sign him. -- Paul Doyle
Chicago
BATMAN: Albert Belle says he wants to finish the final three years of his contract with the team and play the rest of his career on the South Side of Chicago, but the odds of the slugging left fielder even being around next season are incredibly slim. Under terms of his unique contract, Belle had to be one of the three highest-paid players at the end of the 1998 season. With a salary of $11 million, he was fourth and he had the right to ask the team for a rinse of approximately $1.5 million. The team, which drew only 1.4 million last year, refused. "You have to ask yourself how much money is enough?" G.M. Ron Schueler says. The club is looking for one or two starting pitchers, a veteran catcher and a center fielder. With Belle out of the picture, the team would be able to afford most of its needs. The Yankees, who are likely to lose free-agent OF Bernie Williams, are the leading candidates to sign Belle. The Red Sox, Mets, Angels, Dodgers and Orioles are also in the mix.
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