MAILBAG: Nov. 23

Q: What should/can the Arizona Diamondbacks do during the offseason to improve their club? -- Andy, Chandler, Ariz.
PWG -- They may have to 1. find a middle infielder with a little better on base percentage, 2. find a couple of veteran starters (and I don't see how they can afford John Smoltz, although owner Jerry Colangelo called him) and 3. bottomfish if Reggie Sanders and Danny Bautista are too expensive.

Q: Is MLB really considering moving the D-Backs to the American League next year? If so, what kind of move is that? No defending NL champ? MLB is about to become the laughingstock of professional sports in America (since the XFL doesn't exist anymore, MLB is ready to take its place). -- Concerned about Contraction in Georgia
PWG -- Yes, if Montreal and Minnesota are contracted. Why would baseball be a laughingstock when the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Colts left in the dark of night by dreadful owners. Check the NFL, then write back.

	Boone

Q: The Seattle Mariners' needs this offseason are a second and third baseman, left-fielder and a quality second or third starter. Are they going to get them all? Also, why is Hideo Nomo not interested in becoming a Mariner? I figured with all the coverage in Japan that the Mariners get, he would love to join his fellow countrymen on a great team. -- Jeff Hyatt, Bellingham, Wash.
PWG -- The M's have to see what happens with Bret Boone, are trying to trade for Jeff Cirillo and sign Roger Cedeno and will move on after that. Nomo and Ichiro would make for plenty of homeland competition.

Q: Thanks to the New York Yankees, baseball is becoming a joke. Looking at ESPN.com's Rumor Central, I notice that the Yankees are showing interest in all of the following free agents: Jason Giambi, Barry Bonds, John Smoltz, Roger Cedeno and Kenny Lofton. I'm guessing they will bring in at least one of the pitchers, one of the speed guys and either Bonds or Giambi. That makes me sick, but I know there's no way around it. Will this trend ever change? -- Ben Russell, Peoria, Ill.
PWG -- Look, the Yankees call everyone, and a lot of that is from the New York papers, who in their wars list a new pursuit every day. Rumor Central is nice, but is scattered and responds to every report imaginable. The Yankees are not interested in Bonds. They likely will sign Giambi in a hurry, they're dabbling in Smoltz, but if you understand New York, you appreciate that Yankees GM Brian Cashman and his counterpart with the Mets, Steve Phillips, call about everyone. If you don't understand why, check the ownership.

Q: Let's assume that Bud Selig is fired or otherwise removed form the commissioner's position. Who are the likely candidates to replace him?  Does Paul Beeston have a shot or has Bob Costas expressed any interest? -- Dylan Steuart, Toronto, Ontario
PWG -- The change would come only if Selig feels that the perceived conflicts get in his way. Beeston would be great. So would Sandy Alderson.

Q: Any follow-up on Greg "Toe" Nash? I read your article this summer about him, but haven't seen anything since. What organization is he with now? How did he fare in the minors? After seeing his numbers, what do you project for his future? -- Alex Ferguson, Douglas, Mass.
PWG -- Toe is with the Devil Rays, had a remarkable year in the Appalachian League as he batted .248 considering he hadn't played on a regular basis since the eighth grade, but did have knee surgery. He has terrific upside, and is a wonderful kid, guided well by Larry Reynolds.

Q: Are the Chicago Cubs just content to stand still this winter? Is there any chance of them signing someone like Chan Ho Park or Moises Alou to improve the starting pitching or solidify the left-field position and rid the clubhouse of Rondell White? -- Dave Knickerbocker, Chicago
PWG -- The Cubs will never sit still, but I chafe at the suggestion that Rondell White is somehow a negative influence. He is a tremendous person. His flaw has been injuries, and hopefully his work this winter with the Sacramento Kings trainer cures him of hamstring problems. Park is a big gamble, a 2-3 starter with serious back problems that haven't yet been resolved. He didn't exactly perform under pressure this year, as well.

	Canseco

Q: With Jose Canseco closing in on 500 home runs, who do you see him playing for next year? Will 500 homers get him into the Hall of Fame? And will he follow bash brother Big Mac into retirement after he reaches 500? -- T. Cronin, Burke, Va.
PWG -- Because Canseco effectively became a one-dimensional, home-run-or-nothing DH a decade ago and has knocked in 95 runs only once since then, his homers are essentially irrelevant until he proves he is a legitimate player. As for 500 home runs, Bill James projects 13 current major leaguers who have yet to get to 500 as making it. How exclusive is that?

Q: Is there any hope for the Kansas City Royals? -- J, St. Louis, Mo.
PWG -- It depends on revenue sharing and how that impacts ownerships. Allard Baird, Brian Murphy, George Brett, et al comprise a terrific, promising organization for the Royals, but ownership has to care and have the resources. Last summer, owner David Glass ridiculed reports that they would trade Jermaine Dye. He'll have to go a long way before he'll be believed again.

Q: I've heard the Anaheim Angels would look to unload Mo Vaughn in any deal involving Darin Erstad. What are the odds of the Yankees being involved in this kind of deal, with Vaughn being a DH for the Yanks? -- Alex, E. Hampton, Conn.
PWG -- I think these become separate issues, and the team most likely to bite (Boston) isn't going to now that they have Tony Clark. Mo may be hard to deal, and the Angels may have a problem trading Erstad despite his impending free agency because of what he brings. If I were with another team, I'd sure want Erstad -- he is a special person and player who just went through some serious personal and physical problems last season. His next six years will be what he is ... special.

Q: I am curious as to a situation involving Tino Martinez. This year he attained 10/5 status with the Yankees. If the Yankees sign Giambi and let him go, does he lose that 10/5 status when he signs with another orginization? Just curious. -- Jason, Boston
PWG -- Once Martinez filed for free agency, his 10/5 rights expired.