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American League

Sporting News, The, Feb 22, 1999

Anaheim

A BRIGHTER PICTURE: The outlook for C Todd Greene appeared dim going into the offseason. A sore shoulder prevented him from catching in 1998, and the Angels were not about to get their hopes up for 1999, so they prepared for the season assuming Greene would not catch. But after Greene rehabilitated his shoulder for several months, doctors gave the slugger the green light to go behind the plate again. "That's a huge plus," says manager Terry Collins. "Even if we start out catching him a couple days a week, by the end of the summer, it might be up to three or four." Matt Walbeck and Phil Nevin shared the catching duties last season, and Charlie O'Brien was acquired last July, but none of them can match Greene's power.

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COMPETITION AT THIRD: When the Angels inserted Troy Glaus into the lineup last July, many figured the third base job would be his for the next decade. But Dave Hollins will not give up his spot without a fight, and the Angels have no intention of handing the job to Glare, who hit .218 with 51 strikeouts in 165 at-bats last season. "It will be a good competition, and the job will go to (the person) who plays best," Collins says. "Troy is a good-looking, up-and-coming young player, but the way Dave played in 1997, he changed things here." Hollins hit .288 with 16 homers and 85 RBIs in 1997, but slumped to .242 with 11 homers and 39 RBIs last year before undergoing season-ending rotator cuff surgery. The Angels tried to trade Hollins during the winter, but until he shows he's healthy and can provide adequate defense, he won't garner any interest on the market. --Mike DiGiovanna

Baltimore

YOUNGER, STRONGER ROTATION: The starting rotation includes three top-flight veterans, only one of whom--Juan Guzman--has a checkered physical history and will rely on younger pitchers to fill the final two slots. So the chances of another medical meltdown (like last season) seem low, though uncertainty about the reshuffled bullpen remains very much an issue.... The club also appears sturdier afield, with the addition of C Charles Johnson and durable OF Albert Belle. The only physical question mark among the free-agent players that were added over the winter is 1B Will Clark, but he is coming off a healthy season in which he batted .305 and drove in 102 runs to reestablish himself as a front-fine run-producer

LONG-TERM VIEW: The team continues to rely almost entirely on veterans, but G.M. Frank Wren did not turn a blind eye to player development during his shopping spree over the winter Clark, for instance, signed a modest two-year deal, which means first base prospect Calvin Pickering could compete with him for the starting role as soon as next spring. 2B Delino DeShields was signed to a reasonable three-year deal, which should allow prospect Jerry Hairston to continue his development for another year or two and then start pressing for a major league job. The Orioles aren't entirely handcuffed if Hairston comes on sooner, though, since DeShields did not command a no-trade clause. Belle is the only player the club locked up to an extended deal, and that is because there is little chance anyone is going to to take the place of a guy who is arguably the most dangerous hitter in the game. --Peter Schmuck

Boston

FREE MONEY: Although the team won the arbitration case against OF Midre Cummings, the reserve received a significant raise. Cummings doubled his 1998 salary, which is a nice deal for a player who has been discarded by three teams in the past 18 months. Although he led all A.L. pinch hitters last season with a .346 average, two homers, four doubles and nine hits, Cummings missed more than a month with a wrist injury and is hardly a cinch to make the team. The lefthanded hitter is a below-average outfielder who will battle for a spot with Troy O'Leary, Darran Lewis, Damon Buford and rookie Trot Nixon, who is expected to start in right. Cummings could compete with Reggie Jefferson and Bob Hamelin for at-bats as a lefthanded DH, but he doesn't seem to have the power to be a viable option.

NEW PROSPECTS: The club continued its international push by signing RHP Seung Jun Song from Korea. Song, 18, was the No. 1 pick in the Korean amateur draft and throws a fastball in the low 90s. He could develop into a power pitcher and likely will start in the Gulf Coast League this season. Song joins two other pitching prospects from Korea: righthander Jin Ho Cho and Sun Woo Kim. Cho could crack the Boston rotation this season after dominating at Class A.... The team acquired LHP Chris Cumberland from the Twins' minor league system. Cumberland likely will pitch out of the Class AAA Pawtucket bullpen but could compete for a major league job sometime this season. He appears to have little chance to start, however, became the major league rotation is set. --Paul Doyle

Chicago

TRADE TALK: When Albert Belle and Robin Ventura left on the same day via free agency this winter, it made sense DH/1B Frank Thomas would be the next big name to exit Comiskey Park. The front office, though, denies all trade talk surrounding Thomas and insists he will anchor the current rebuilding project. But if this young team falls out of contention early, look for Thomas to be moved. He hasn't been working on his fielding during the winter became Paul Konerko is expected to be the starting first baseman.... The team is hoping RHP Jaime Navarro shows up in good shape for spring training and starts pitching like a guy who's making $5 million a season, which would make him a more attractive trade option. The team is worried about leaving Navarro in the middle of a young, unproven rotation. When spring training opens, G.M. Ron Schueler says he will tell Navarro he's on the trade block. If a deal doesn't happen, Navarro will have to win a job in the rotation or accept the role of mop-up reliever.

American League

Sporting News, The, Feb 22, 1999

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