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Beane continues to build A's
By Peter Gammons
Special to ESPN.com
Dec. 8
There is little question that the window has already begun to creep shut in Oakland, but A's GM Billy Beane isn't giving up.
|  | | Gary Sheffield could very well find himself playing for the A's next season. |
"We're not going to sit back and say 'we'll stick with prospects and build for three years,' " says Beane. "We're too competitive for that. We're going to try to keep building and getting better. Sure, we're probably going to lose some extraordinary players (Jason Isringhausen is gone, Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon likely will be, as well), but we'll regroup."
The Athletics have won 87, 92 and 102 games over the last three years, and have been either 12th or 13th in the American League in payroll each season. The first step came Friday, when Beane traded two players he fleeced from other organizations -- third baseman Eric Hinske and right-handed pitcher Justin Miller -- to Toronto for closer Billy Koch.
Now, Beane knows he can trade Koch and Jermaine Dye to L.A. for Gary Sheffield and Luke Prokopec. Problem is, Sheffield has let it be known that he does not want to play in Oakland. And Beane says, "I look at Koch at 25 and see 100 saves. The guy throws 100. He solves a big problem."
In making the deal, Beane insisted that new Toronto GM and former A's director of player personnel J.P. Ricciardi take Miller when Ricciardi wanted left-hander Mario Ramos, who is slated to step into the Oakland rotation next season along with Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito. If Beane keeps Koch, the A's will have one of the best pitching staffs in the league. But he needs to find a leadoff hitter and a productive bat to replace Giambi.
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On the up ... and down
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Most general managers track players' career lines, and pester their scouts for signs of loss of speed or arm strength.
Ask around for players on the way up and some of the replies are obvious: Lance Berkman, Phil Nevin, Cristian Guzman, Eric Chavez, Magglio Ordonez, Torii Hunter, Trot Nixon, Jose Cruz, Jr., Orlando Cabrera, J.D. Drew, Bret Boone, Aaron Boone, Freddy Garcia, Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson, Barry Zito, Brian Giles and Matt Morris.
Some scouting nomimations, however, aren't so obvious: Brent Abernathy, Roy Halladay, Victor Zambrano, Luis Rivas, Danys Baez, Danny Bautista and Erubiel Durazo. That's why scouts get paid.
Some of the declining answers are obvious: Tim Salmon, Mo Vaughn, Greg Vaughn, Wil Cordero, Carlos Febles, Andy Benes, Todd Zeile and Ben Grieve.
Some are or may be the result of injuries: Eric Karros, Jeromy Burnitz, David Justice, Rusty Greer, Ray Durham, Kevin Young and Craig Biggio.
But for a few players on distinct three-year career paths, note the following:
Career trends? Here are OPS curves over the last three years:
Ascending: 1999, 2000, 2001
Bonds, FA, 1.006, 1.128, 1.378
Giambi, FA, .975, 1.103, 1.117
Sosa, ChC, 1.002, 1.040, 1.174
Zaun, FA, .637, .800, .913
Marrero, St.L., .533, .724, .750
Millar, Fla., .795, .862, .931
Nevin, S.D., .879, .917, .976
A. Ramirez, Pit., .504, .695, .886
Berkman, Hou., .708, .945, 1.050
Houston, Mil., .679, .785, .815
Guzman, Min., .543, .687, .814
Chavez, Oak., .760, .850, .878
B. Boone, FA, .726, .746, .950
Zaun, FA, .637, .800, .913
Hunter, Min., .689, .726, .785
Kotsay, S.D., .708, .780, .807
Mirabelli, Bos., .683, .707, .785
Catalanotto, Tex., .785, .832, .881
Halter, Det., .574, .668, .811
Descending: 1999, 2000, 2001
Galarraga, FA, .992, .895, .785
Everett, Bos., .969, .960, .751
Cordero, Cle., .864, .792, .656
Casey, Cin., .938, .902, .827
J. Bell, Ari., 931, .787, .749
Burnitz, Mil., .848, .826, .715
Ausmus, Hou., .780, .722, .625
Anderson, Cle., .881, .796, .613
Salmon, Ana., 855, .728, .633
Griffey, Cin., .960, .943, .899
Karros, L.A., .912, .780, .691
Knoblauch, FA, .847, .751, .700
Jeter, NYY, .990, .897, .857
Lofton, FA, .837, .771, .720
G. Williams, NYY, .792, .739, .570
Vizquel, Cle., .833, .752, .657
Taubensee, Cle., .876, .704, .677
Surhoff, Atl., .839, .787, .726
J. Lopez, Atl., .908, .821, .747
Reese, Cin., 747, .707, .627
Rios, Pit., .947, .849, .796
Glanville, Phi., .833, .684, .660
Morris, Pit., .787, .686, .559
Odd numbers
Desi Relaford's on-base percentage over the last five years: .233, .279, .322, .351, .364
Ken Griffey Jr.'s slugging percentage over the last five years: .646, .611, .576, .556, .533
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"We've got ideas," says Beane. "One thing we do not do is sit back and throw up our hands. There is too much talent here to do that."
The Giambi situation has been confusing for a while. It appeared that Giambi's agent, Arn Tellem, and Randy Levine were close to a deal last weekend, but little has moved from the seven-year., $119 million area upwards, which might not happen until 1) Selig is out of Washington for good and 2) a new team enters the fray.
The Yankees talked to the Dodgers about Sheffield, at one point discussing a three-way deal that would have sent Ramiro Mendoza and others to Toronto for Koch, who then would have gone to L.A. Sheff badly wants to come back to the East Coast -- and the Braves seemingly would be out after signing Vinny Castilla and moving Chipper Jones to left -- and looks at the Yankees as the perfect scenario for him to do so.
Sheffield has been spending a lot of time this offseason with Barry Bonds, and appreciating how much Bonds wants a World Series ring has thrown it out that if Sheff were to go to the Yankees, Barry would sign there as well at a discount. Crazy, you say? Friends who want to play together, dream together. Then, when the Yankees offered salary arbitration to Tino Martinez, questions were raised about what's going on with Giambi, but Tellem on Friday said, "Simply, a deal hasn't been reached yet. Jason's in Las Vegas, and we're not even close enough for him to make plans to take a physical."
One way or another, the Yankees will get a bat to play left field, and may not wait a month or two for the Marlins ownership change to find out if they can get Cliff Floyd. Moises Alou is out there, and according to his agents, the Brothers Hendricks, could sign this week, if not with the Yanks, somewhere. The Yankees have Steve Karsay and Sterling Hitchcock in tow, Steinbrenner is lunching with David Wells this upcoming week, they could trade Jay Witasick this week -- back to San Diego for Alex Arias and Wascar Serrano is one possibility -- and could also trade Orlando Hernandez.
Oh yes, then there's Robin Ventura, the perfect stand-in until Drew Henson is ready, and a stand-in fully capable, if healthy, of hitting 30 homers and drawing 90 walks in a Yankee lineup in which he will have play a complementary role. Talk about Joe Torre's kind of person.
The Mets, who can move Edgardo Alfonzo to third base and do a second-base platoon of Desi Relaford and Joe McEwing if they get increased outfield production, made the Ventura-David Justice deal deal because 1) they save $1.25 million and 2) they feel Justice is far more tradeable than Ventura. The Mets say the Cubs, Dodgers, A's and several other teams have some interest in Justice, so if they want to move him, they might be able to. If they are going to get into the sweepstakes for Bonds, Bret Boone or Juan Gonzalez, they have to pare payroll, which has become a critical issue this offseason. However, unless several other things fall apart, their interest in Jeromy Burnitz may have waned, even if their interest in Gonzalez doesn't pick up.
Around the majors
Now that the Cardinals have closer Jason Isringhausen, they are expected to move payroll out of the bullpen, with several teams interested in Dave Veres ($4.5 million salary in 2002). Colorado has long coveted Veres and catcher Eli Marrero.
Baltimore's signing of Marty Cordova may curtail a deal of Sidney Ponson or Jason Johnson for Dmitri Young. Braves GM John Schuerholz respected B.J. Surhoff's desire to be home with his wife Polly and their children, and agreed to send him back to the O's. After Surhoff met with Orioles owner Peter Angelos, Schuerholz told the O's they could have him for catcher Fernando Lunar, but Baltimore asked for the Braves to pay $3.5 million of Surhoff's $4.5 million contract for 2002. Schuerholz said no way.
The Indians have indicated that four or five teams are interested in John Rocker, including the Rangers.
Now that the Cubs have broken off talks with shortstop Ricky Gutierrez, they will now deal for a shortstop. They've talked to the Indians about Omar Vizquel, the Royals about Neifi Perez and the Reds about Pokey Reese.
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| Cirillo |
Seattle looked into acquiring Scott Rolen, but isn't going to give up young right-hander Joel Pineiro or any other package, so look for the M's to get Jeff Cirillo from Colorado for a package that includes shortstop Ramon Vazquez -- who is having a big winter -- and a couple of pitchers, Brett Tomko and Dennis Stark.
The Angels would like to move the contracts of Tim Salmon and Mo Vaughn -- and Mo would welcome a move to Baltimore -- and will listen to offers for Darin Erstad and Troy Percival, although it's unlikely either will be dealt. Erstad has rejected the club's offer on a long-term deal and will be a free agent after next season.
As the Giants work to retain Jason Schmidt, there are clubs looking into Shawn Estes.
The Padres are testing the interest in catcher Ben Davis, but it would have to be a major deal for the Pads to consider trading him.
One GM on Eric Hinske, the newly acquired Jays' third baseman: "He is going to be a very good player. He's got power, he's selective, he had a great fall league. Watch out."
The Rockies have pulled Denny Neagle off the market, even before finding out once and for all if the Red Sox would do a deal for Carl Everett and Shea Hillenbrand. Everett indicated to Red Sox GM Dan Duquette this week he might reconsider his trade request, but may be changing his mind. One possibility is Everett and prospects to San Diego for outfielder Ray Lankford and pitcher Bobby Jones, who has always interested Duquette.
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| Park |
With Hideo Nomo out of the question, Duquette, who doesn't have oodles of spending cash with the unsettled ownership issues, is talking to the Hendricks Bros. about Schmidt and Terry Adams. There have been widespread reports around GM circles that Adams, who has 22 career starts, had some arm tenderness at the end of the season, reports that the Hendricks have been trying to prove false. There is growing sentiment in Boston's camp, if Duquette has the money, to go get the best free-agent pitcher, Chan Ho Park, giving them a second frontliner along with Pedro Martinez. If the Sox could get to the postseason that would give them a kind of Randy Johnson/Curt Schilling thing, rather than Pedro and his Frank Castillo/Pete Schourek Court.
Speaking of arms, promising Mets right-hander Grant Roberts left winter ball with a tired shoulder.
And speaking of winter ball, the Red Sox are encouraged by two of their pitchers: righty Juan Pena, who is 4-0, 1.22 in the Dominican after missing almost two years, and lefty Jorge Dela Rosa (dubbed "The Mexican John Rocker" by Duquette), who has six saves and 29 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings in the Mexican League. Incidentally, Juan F. Pena's brother, Juan A., a lefty in Triple-A with the A's, is 1-0 in the Dominican. You can never have enough Juan's in one family.
But why do the Red Sox treat their employees so poorly? One scout was going to drive up to the winter meetings on his own, and was told to stay home and that he's not welcome. You'd think they'd have brought everyone in the organization in. No wonder they can't sign their draft choices.
The Royals have come hard at Chuck Knoblauch, who may take the $1 million from K.C. and try to revive his career.
The expansion Houston Texans are thinking long and hard about signing free agent QB Chad Hutchinson, who had a rough (111 walks, 97 2/3 IP) season in Triple-A for the Cardinals. Hutchinson has a great arm and is extremely well liked by the organization, but when the control goes, the game isn't fun.
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| Valentin |
From a scout watching the Puerto Rican League for two weeks: "The greatest things were first the way Jose Valentin plays as hard here as he does all season and the second is that Hector Villanueva is still one of the most popular players in that league. He's amazing." And the Red Sox had their scout down there stay an extra day this week to watch Hideki Irabu.
The Dodgers are encouraged that Eric Karros will come back to his usual 30-homer self, as he's up in Vancouver working this winter with a specialist. And Andy Ashby drove from New Jersey to Waterbury, Conn. to throw with Dave Wallace, and Wallace was impressed enough to believe Ashby will make it back.
Congratulations to this week's newlyweds -- Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks. Think those kids will be musicians?
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