Looking like a Billion

Sporting News, The, Nov 13, 2000 by Jared Hoffman

Alex Gonzalez, SS. The Blue Jays weren't willing to meet his demands (five years, $30 million), but some team that loses out on Alex Rodriguez will. He hit .252 this season and set career highs in homers (15) and RBIs (69), but his strikeout totals (77 in 2000) and on-base percentage (.273, career) make him a poor choice to hit leadoff, and his arm strength has diminished.

Jeffrey Hammonds, OF. Is Hammonds a product of Coors? He hit .399 at home and .279 on the read.

Todd Hundley, C. His offensive production at catcher is tantalizing: He had 24 homers and 70 RBIs in only 90 games with the Dodgers last season. Hundley also led all N.L. catchers with 13 errors, and only Mike Piazza threw out a smaller percentage in steal attempts. Since 1995, he has played in 90 or fewer games three times.

Charles Johnson, C. The White Sox wouldn't mind having him back, but not at his asking price of four years, $40 million. Johnson had a breakout season offensively, hitting .304 with 31 homers and 91 RBIs. (His previous bests were .253, 19 and 63.) He has always been known for his defense, but there are whispers he doesn't call a good game.

Terry Mulholland, LHP. He's lefthanded, and that alone will inflate his value. Mulholland can be used as a starter or reliever, but he never has been a big winner, and over the past seven seasons, he has finished with an ERA under 4.00 only once.

John Wetteland, RHP. He was one of the best closers in the 1990s but is losing his effectiveness. Wetteland finished with a 4.20 ERA last season, the third consecutive season his ERA has gone up and his highest mark as a reliever.

Jared Hoffman is a projects editor for THE SPORTING NEWS.