Wacky week leaves East out of whack

Sporting News, The, Dec 1, 1997 by Peter Schmuck

The birth of the Devil Rays probably won't change the balance of power in the American League any time soon, but the flurry of trade activity that followed last week's expansion draft could have an immediate impact on the team's division, the A L East.

The Devil Rays drafted largely for the future, but the occasion of their arrival--the expansion process--served as a catalyst for trade activity in both leagues, and the biggest deal announced on that historic night elevated the Red Sox into the upper echelon of the division.

General manager Dan Duquette pulled off the deal of the night by acquiring N.L. Cy Young winner Pedro Martinez to fill a hole in the rotation that had existed--and festered-- since Roger Clemens walked away from the club last year to sign with the rival Blue Jays.

"He's one of the premier pitchers in our industry, and he gives us an ace for our staff," Duquette says. "I think it sends a good message for our fans that we'd like to put together a winning team in Fenway Park, and I also think it sends a message to our players."

No doubt, it was meant to send a message to one player in particular. The Red Sox are trying to sign first baseman Mo Vaughn to a multiyear contract extension, and Duquette needed to illustrate that the organization is committed to winning. Vaughn was known to be unhappy with the circumstances involved with Clemens' departure, and there is apprehension in Boston that he will play out the final year of his contract and move on.

Now, Vaughn can return for the 1998 season more confident that the Red Sox have enough talent to compete with the Orioles and Yankees, who have turned the A L. East into a two-team race the past two seasons. The Red Sox may have even more reason for optimism if the Orioles continue to dismantle the team that went wire-to-wire last year.

The Orioles were one of the minority of clubs that did not make a deal or announce a free-agent signing on the night of the expansion draft. The club reportedly watched a deal for Marlins lefty Al Leiter fall through when the Devil Rays took Orioles pitching prospect Esteban Yan in the first round, then stood oat while 17 of the 30 major league clubs announced some kind of trade or acquisition.

Baltimore's front office is more preoccupied with holding last year's team together. Center fielder Brady Anderson, closer Randy Myers and fourth starter Scott Kamieniecki filed for free agency and are in danger of being snatched by other clubs. If they all go, the Orioles no longer will be considered the team to beat in the East.

The Yankees announced the completion of the deal that sent lefthander Kenny Rogers to the A's for infielder Scott Brosius, a trade that improves the starting lineup and makes room in the rotation for another front-line pitcher. If the Yankees succeed in signing a free-agent starter or complete a deal for a premier pitcher--those Randy Johnson rumors are still out there--they would emerge as a solid favorite to represent the American League in next year's Fall Classic.

Don't expect the Devil Rays to have much to say about that. They acquired some fine, young players in the draft and added Fred McGriff in a postdraft deal, but owner Vince Namoli would have to spend a fortune in the free-agent market to make the club competitive. The Rays aren't done, but they aren't likely to do anything that might endanger the financial stability of the new franchise.

No doubt, the preseason pecking order in the A L. West will depend heavily on whether the Mariners are serious about trading Johnson. The M's remain the class of the division but their rotation was a major strength in '97 and would not be without the most overpowering pitcher in the game.

The Rangers and Angels can only hope Johnson goes. Both are in a position to supplant Seattle as division favorites if the Mariners downscale their pitching staff.

The A.L. Central was not significantly affected by the sudden talent shift. The rumored deal that would have sent Indians third baseman Matt Williams to the Diamondbacks did not occur, and the White Sox did not make any moves: They haven't even named a manager. The Indians didn't overpower anyone in '97, but G.M. John Hart is expected to upgrade the rotation before spring training.

Though expansion probably won't dramatically change the competitive balance in either league, it definitely will have an impact on the quality of pitching. The two new clubs selected 38 pitchers during the draft, severely diluting the pool of pitching talent for the second time in five years.

Peter Schmuck covers baseball for the Baltimore Sun. E-mail him at schmuck@sportingnews.com and see his responses at www.sportingnews.com and on our AOL site.