American League

Sporting News, The, Oct 16, 2000

Anaheim

PITCHING GAP: Young pitchers Ramon Ortiz, Jarrod Washburn, Seth Etherton, Matt Wise and Scott Schoeneweis showed promise this season, and all appear capable of pitching in the big leagues. But when compared to Oakland's and Seattle's young pitchers, the Angels' kids don't measure up. Ortiz has great stuff, but he has been erratic. Washburn, Etherton and Wise missed much of the season because of injuries. And Schoeneweis went 3-10 after a 4-0 start in April. Unless the Angels can close that pitching gap in the next year or two, they will have trouble winning the division regardless of how prolific their offense is.

MONEY TO BURN: With RHP Ken Hill released, RHP Kent Bottenfield traded and the team declining to pick up Tim Belcher's $5.1 million option, the Angels will lop off about $13 million from their $57 million payroll. This should give the team the money to pursue a top free-agent pitcher. But the market is thin, with LHP Mike Hampton, RHP Mike Mussina and RHP Darren Dreifort topping a short list, so the Angels may have to trade for pitching. Their two biggest chips may be RF Tim Salmon, who is entering the final year of a four-year, $22.5 million contract, and 1B Mo Vaughn, who is entering the third year of a six-year, $80 million contract. The Angels will probably shop Vaughn, who wouldn't mind returning to the East Coast, but they'll have to eat some of his contract to trade him. --Mike DiGiovanna

Baltimore

RIPKEN REDUX: Getting 3B Cal Ripken signed does not appear to be an obstacle, since he will not pit the Orioles against other teams on the open market. A more pressing concern perhaps is what Ripken's role will be next season. Ripken denies he has informed the team he will only play third, although he has expressed trepidation over moving to first or being used extensively at DH. The fact is, the team doesn't have a better option than Ripken as an everyday third baseman. Prospect Ryan Minor continued to stumble in his major league time, and utility players Jeff Conine and Mark Lewis are better in those roles than as everyday third basemen.

RICHARD TOP ROOKIE: With 13 HRs, 1B Chris Richard was the rookie with the biggest impact and is penciled in as starter next season. But he also has played extensively in right field, which is where he could end up if the team goes after a big-time first baseman, such as Anaheim's Mo Vaughn. The team needs a middle-of-the-order hitter to provide protection for Albert Belle and to be a run producer, something of which the Orioles have few.... Delino DeShields began the 2000 season as the much-maligned second baseman and ended it as the starting left fielder and team MVP. Manager Mike Hargrove went so far as to pronounce DeShields the starter in left in 2001. He already has shown good range, and his arm appears better than the Orioles expected. The biggest thing will be developing a left fielder's instincts. --Dave Sheinin

Boston

INTERNAL STRIFE: A cease-fire, brokered by CEO John Harrington, was in effect between manager Jimy Williams and G.M. Dan Duquette. The club wanted Williams to fulfill his contract obligation for 2001, but if an N.L. team comes calling, the club will not object to Williams pursuing the job. Barring such a move, Williams is expected to be with the club next spring in Fort Myers. There is little doubt that Carl Everett, the team's talented but testy center fielder, will be there, too. Everett and Williams frequently were at loggerheads. Whether they can co-exist will be a fascinating sub-plot next year. It will be interesting to see if Duquette will entertain trade proposals on Everett and if any teams would be tempted to bring Everett into their fold. Cubs manager Don Baylor expressed an interest as insurance in case OF prospect Corey Patterson is not ready.

MONEY MATTERS: The team has about $68 million in base salaries guaranteed to 13 players next year, so it will have to choose carefully with the remainder of the roster. The team must decide upon six options, and it appears only the $1.5 million for RHP Hipolito Pichardo will be picked up. The others--$8.5 million for RHP Ramon Martinez, $5 million for RHP Tim Wakefield, $4.5 million for RHP Rod Beck, $2.5 million for LHP Pete Schourek and RHP Tom Gordon--are too rich for the club's taste. --Michael Silverman

Chicago

LIKELY LOSSES: RHP Cal Eldred will be a free agent at the end of the postseason, and there's no way the injury-prone starter is going to make as much as the $5.3 million he was paid in 2000. Eldred was very effective for the team in the first half, going 10-2, but he's been on the disabled list six times in the last six years with arm trouble and he's pitching with a five-inch screw in his elbow. The team is interested in retaining him at a reduced price, and the 32-year-old pitcher would love to come back. But with promising young starters such as RHPs Jon Garland, Jon Rauch and Kip Wells ready to occupy spots in the rotation, it doesn't look like there will be room for Eldred.... C Charles Johnson, acquired in a July 29 trade from the Orioles, is headed for free agency, and he's probably going to want four years for around $40 million. The team is not expected to meet that contract demand.