A.L

Sporting News, The, Jan 14, 2002

N.L. West

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: The team resigned RHP Mike Morgan to a one-year deal with a $750,000 base salary. Morgan turned 42 in October, but the way he sees it, his arm is fresh because he missed more than half of last season with a foot injury. His 38 innings pitched in 2001 were his fewest since 1985. Morgan could be a starter if other alternatives fall through. Otherwise, Arizona has four relievers expected to make the opening-day roster--Morgan, RHPs Byung-Hyun Kim, Bret Prinz and LHP Greg Swindell. RHP Miguel Batista will be another if he is not in the rotation, and RHP Matt Mantei a possibility if he has recovered from elbow surgery.... The Diamondbacks hired Chuck Kniffin as their pitching coach, replacing Bob Welch. Kniffin has been a minor league pitching coach for 14 years, the past five in the club's system. Although Kniffin lacks experience at the big-league level, G.M. Joe Garagiola Jr. says Kniffin has worked with Arizona's major leaguers in spring training and rehab stints. --Ed Price

COLORADO ROCKIES: If John Valentin proves healthy after a physical and a few days of workouts starting Monday, he is expected to succeed Jeff Cirillo as the team's third baseman. Valentin hit 23 homers for the Red Sox in 1998 before injuring his knee in 2000 and heel in 2001. He could provide a righthanded-hitting presence in the middle of the order, and he can approach Cirillo's defensive skills.... On paper, the Rockies will enter 2002 with the best rotation in the division after Arizona. They have veteran LHPs Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle for the first two spots, and young but experienced RHPs Scott Elarton and John Thomson and talented first-year pitcher RHP Shawn Chacon competing for the third and fourth spots. The team also has promising RHPs Jason Jennings and Dennis Stark to compete for the last spot. --Mike Klis

LOS ANGELES DODGERS: The departure of RHP Chan Ho Park will give manager Jim Tracy more flexibility in using C Paul Lo Duca. Backup C Chad Kreuter worked exclusively with Park, which made it difficult at times for Tracy to get Lo Duca into the lineup for favorable matchups.... LF Gary Sheffield wants to be traded if the dub won't give him assurances that he will be a Dodger throughout his contract. In a phone conversation, G.M. Dan Evans told Sheffield that he wasn't trying to trade him earlier this offseason. But Sheffield believes Evans was misleading him. This is a distraction the team doesn't need.... Sheffield isn't the only one who is upset with Evans. Numerous agents and officials from other clubs privately have complained that Evans has misled them about his interest in free agents and that he hasn't returned calls about possible trades. Evans has declined to comment on the issue. --Brian Dohn

SAN DIEGO PADRES: G.M. Kevin Towers believes in stockpiling lefty relievers, hoping that quantity produces quality. To that end, he has added veteran LHPs Alan Embree and Rob Ramsay. If Embree or Ramsay does an adequate job, manager Bruce Bochy is less likely to overwork LHP Jose Nunez, who could become one of the league's better lefthanded relievers. Nunez gave the Padres excellent returns in the second half of last season.... The rotation lacks an ace but can keep games close and allow the offense and bullpen to win them. Essentially, the veterans are being asked to buy time for top prospects RHPs Dennis Tankersley and Jacob Peavy. --Tom Krasovic

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS: Reggie Sanders, signed to a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2003, gives the team an experienced right fielder who should provide protection in the middle of the lineup for 2B Jeff Kent and 1B J.T. Snow. Now OF Marvin Benard can play a supporting role for Sanders and CF Tsuyoshi Shinjo.... The club must run more. The leader in steals last year was LF Barry Bonds, with 13. That's not enough. Sanders had 14 for Arizona, and Benard led the team with 22 steals in 2000. Shinjo is fast, but he stole only four bases last year. Running coach Sonny Jackson will work with Shinjo to improve his technique.... Rookie RHP Kurt Ainsworth has the inside track on the No. 5 spot, but don't count out RHP Ryan Jensen. Jensen is not overpowering, but he can throw four pitches for strikes and knows how to work hitters. --Henry Schulman

A.L. East

BALTIMORE ORIOLES: The team hopes 1B/LF Jay Gibbons, 24, is recovered fully from surgery to repair a broken bone in his wrist. The injury cut short a solid rookie season for Gibbons, who hit 15 homers in only 73 games. His comeback began this fall in the Dominican Republic, but that also was cut short because of pain in the wrist. He has rested the wrist since then and now claims to be free of pain. He is the team's best power-hitting prospect, so even if he begins the season in the minors, it is unlikely he will spend the entire year there, especially if he is healthy.... The team is excited about hard-throwing RHP Jorge Julio, 22, who had a solid Venezuelan winter season. Though it is too soon to project him as a closer or to even make the major league roster, Julio could give the team a powerful late-inning presence in the bullpen. He throws his fastball in the high90s and occasionally touches triple digits. Though he needs more consistency with his slider, his fastball alone is enough to make him tough on righthanded hitters. --Dave Sheinin