American League

Sporting News, The, Nov 6, 2000

Anaheim

OPTIONAL MOVES: Though the team is not expected to pick up the 2001 options on SS Gary DiSarcina ($3.45 million) and RHP Tim Belcher ($5.1 million), it hopes to renegotiate contracts with both for much lower base salaries and give them chances to win jobs next spring. DiSarcina is recovering from rotator cuff surgery and may not be ready for spring training.... RHP Ben Weber will challenge for a middle relief job next season. Weber, whom the team plucked from the waiver wire in August, throws a 90-mph fastball with good sinking action and has a sharp-breaking slider. He also has a herky-jerky motion that can be deceptive for hirers.

BITTER PILL: After ending the 2000 season on a down note, LHP Scott Schoeneweis may have trouble winning a rotation spot in 2001. Schoeneweis, who often is hard on himself after losses, allowed 17 runs on 17 hits in nine innings over his last three starts, all losses. After a 4-0 April, Schoeneweis went 3-10, a slide that put a serious dent in his confidence. After Schoeneweis' final game of the season, veteran 1B Mo Vaughn sat with him in a corner of the clubhouse and had a lengthy conversation with him, reminding him that the team is in his corner. --Mike DiGiovanna

Baltimore

NEAGLE HUNTING: The club is expected to target Yankees LHP Denny Neagle, especially if it is unable to re-sign RHP Mike Mussina. Neagle grew up outside of Baltimore and has expressed a desire to return. However, putting a lefthanded fly-ball pitcher in Camden Yards for 16 starts a season could be courting disaster, given the ballpark's cozy dimensions. Neagle recently broke off talks with the Yankees, who are not expected to make a serious effort to keep him. He is seeking a contract worth $10 million a year. Neagle started the season with the Reds but was traded to the Yankees on July 12. He was 0-2 in the postseason.

DOWN WITH RAPP: The Orioles declined to exercise their option on RHP Pat Rapp, who was 9-12 with a 5.90 ERA for the club this season. But the team still might try to sign Rapp, who becomes a free agent, at a lower price. The Orioles signed Rapp to an incentive-laden, one-year contract in January, with a base salary of $750,000. Rapp hit almost all of his incentive clauses, which were based primarily on number of starts, and wound up earning more than $3 million. By the terms of his contract, his 2001 salary would have used that figure as a base salary. --Dave Sheinin

Boston

MEDICAL EXAMS: C Jason Varitek and 2B Jose Offerman each had diagnostic arthroscopic procedures. Varitek's right wrist bothered him for much of the season, especially when the switch hitter batted lefthanded. He had seven home runs from the left side this year after getting 17 in 1999. Offerman was diagnosed with a bruised ligament in his left knee. The injury landed him on the D.L. and slowed him considerably on the basepaths. Offerman had no stolen bases after swiping 19 in '99. Offerman and Varitek, two of the culprits in the team's offensive woes, are expected to be ready for spring training.... According to the doctor who did the surgery on 3B John Valentin's left knee, the player's rehab is going well, and he should be ready for spring training. The same doctor did the surgery on RHP Bret Saberhagen's shoulder before last season. He's not sure if Saberhagen will be able to pitch again.

MINOR SETBACK: C Steve Lomasney, one of the club's top prospects, broke his nose fielding a grounder in batting practice in the Arizona Fall League. Lomasney sustained a string of injuries in 2000, plus he was involved in a street tussle in Fort Myers, Fla., in which he lost teeth and hurt his knee. --Michael Silverman

Chicago

STEPPING DOWN: Ron Schueler had been talking about resigning as general manager for the last three years. He finally did it last week and was replaced by minor league director Ken Williams. Schueler, 52, is staying with the organization as a special assistant to chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. He'll also dabble in his first love, scouting. But the day-to-day duties of the G.M. job started wearing on him, so he ended his 10-year hitch, which had been the longest run in the league. In his new position, Schueler still will have a say in trades and free-agent signings, but he'll be in the background.

STEPPING UP: Williams, who was in charge of the team's minor league system for the last four years, now has the added responsibility of acquiring veteran help through trades and free agency. Williams still is waiting to find out what his budget will be for the 2001 season, but with several key players eligible for arbitration for the first time, the team's payroll will automatically increase. Williams has said that re-signing SS Jose Valentin is a priority. Valentin, a free agent, wants to return, and Williams says the infielder's offensive contributions (25 HRs, 92 RBIs) balance out his defensive misadventures (36 errors). --Scot Gregor

Cleveland

THE MANNY WATCH: If the team doesn't re-sign RF Manny Ramirez by November 15--the day free agents can start negotiating with other clubs--GM. John Hart will look elsewhere to fill the outfield spot. Hart says he's afraid he'll get shut out on the free-agent market if he waits for Ramirez to make his decision. Ramirez's chances of getting a big contract were helped by the four-year, $68 million contract Carlos Delgado signed with Toronto.... Giants RF Ellis Burks, who hit .344 with 24 homers and 96 RBIs in 393 at-bats, is a replacement possibility. But Burks is 36 and hasn't played in more than 150 games in a season since 1996 because of bad knees. Detroit RF Juan Gonzalez hits well at Jacobs Field, but he has a bad back, and Charlie Manuel doesn't need another pouting player in his clubhouse.