National League

Sporting News, The, Jan 22, 2001

Arizona

WHAT A DEAL: As part of their concern about finances, the Diamondbacks had been trying to get OF Luis Gonzalez to defer more of his salary over the next two seasons. They worked out a deal by agreeing to pick up Gonzalez's $4 million option for 2003. Now Gonzalez is owed $12.5 million over the next three seasons--a bargain for a .300 hitter with 30-homer power. But the deal doesn't guarantee Gonzalez will stay with Arizona three more years; in fact, the contract makes him very tradable. If the financial troubles mount and/or the team drops from contention, it would be easy to move Gonzalez.

CLOSER ANALYSIS: Injuries and ineffectiveness mined the first half of 2000 for RHP Matt Mantei, but he showed over the second half he can be a top-notch closer. Once he regained the role, he converted 15 of 16 save chances. Mantei gave up on his curveball last year and developed a slider. The pitch looks more like a fastball out of his hand, so hitters are more likely to swing at it. The club likely could withstand the loss of its closer better than most teams. Sidearming RHP Byung-Hyun Kim has shown he has the talent to handle the role if not quite the maturity. --Ed Price

Atlanta

RARING TO GO: RHP John Smoltz feels so good he'd like spring training to start right away. He missed last season after elbow surgery but recently started twice-a-week throwing sessions and is ecstatic about his recovery. Smoltz says he is throwing at about 80 percent effort and is pleasantly surprised by the movement and velocity on his fastball. Smoltz turns 34 in May but says he figures the surgery added four or five years to his career.... G.M. John Schuerholz is working on a deal for a righthanded hitter to complement lefthanded backup OF Dave Martinez and protect the club against injuries to RF Brian Jordan, 33, and LF B.J. Surhoff, 36.

CLOSER ANALYSIS: Tumultuous doesn't even begin to describe LHP John Rocker's 2000 season. Yet, through all the hoopla and criticism, he didn't lose focus and emerged with 24 saves in 27 opportunities. He displayed his dominance with 77 strikeouts in 53 innings, though his walks increased significantly--particularly during a wild stretch during the first half. If Rocker is ineffective or needs a rest, RHP Kerry Ligtenberg or LHP Mike Remlinger can step in. Each finished with 12 saves last season. --Bill Zack

Chicago

FINAL PIECES: The signing of IF Ron Coomer just about completes the roster overhaul. Coomer can play first and third base but has his sights set on winning the job at first outright Before Coomer's signing, the main option at first was a platoon between lefthanded hitting Matt Stairs and righty Julio Zuleta. Stairs is an outfielder by Wade, and Zuleta has only limited big-league experience. All three might see time at first during the season, but the righthanded hitting Coomer is the most polished around the bag. He also can back up 3B Bill Mueller, and Mueller can back up 2B Eric Young. And because of that depth, C Todd Hundley probably won't have to play much first base.

CLOSER ANALYSIS: The team took a big gamble by signing veteran RHP Tom Gordon as closer. Gordon saved 46 games for the Red Sox in 1998 but had reconstructive elbow surgery in late 1999 and missed all of 2000. He seems to have regained the velocity (88-90 mph) on his fastball, and the snap is back on his curve. If Gordon can't go, an option is RHP Kyle Farnsworth, whom the team groomed to be a closer at Class AAA Iowa for a time last year. But the team would like to ease him into a closer's role. --Bruce Miles

Cincinnati

CATCHING DEPTH: New manager Bob Boone sees recently signed C Kelly Stinnett as competition for C Jason LaRue instead of a backup. Stinnett, a righthanded hitter who turns 31 February 4, has almost six full seasons of major league experience. He is solid defensively, allowing just one passed ball in 74 games last season. C Matt Walbeck, a switch hitter signed as a non-roster player, didn't allow any passed balls in 44 games with Anaheim. Last season, Reds catchers allowed 12 passed balls and played a part in the major league-record 96 wild pitches charged to Reds pitchers.... The team is looking for a utility player after trading Chris Stynes to Boston.

CLOSER ANALYSIS: RHP Mark Wohlers, who has 112 saves on his resume, gives the team veteran depth at closer. Wohlers, 31, is projected as a setup reliever for All-Star closer RHP Danny Graves, 27. A sinkerballer, Graves has 57 saves over the past two seasons. He pitched 91% innings last year, and there is concern about wear on his arm, though slight fatigue makes his sinker more effective. His youth makes it easier for the team to wait on minor league RHPs Bo Donaldson and Mike Neu, each of whom had 24 saves in Class AA and Class A, respectively, last season. --Mark Schmetzer

Colorado

VETERAN HELP: The team continued its bench work by signing veteran OF Roberto Kelly to a minor league deal. Kelly, 36, is coming off elbow surgery that held him to 10 games in 2000. If he sticks, Kelly would be the team's only righthanded-hitting center fielder.... One of the major goals for the team's minor leaguers is to attend the winter camp at Coors Field. Just 21 were brought in for this year's session, which features all the big-league amenities of the home park, as well as guest speakers such as John Elway, Mike Shanahan and John Lucas. The idea, in part, is to remove the awe of the majors so the players don't waste any time when they get there.