33 Major League Players File for Free Agency
N E W Y O R K, Oct. 31, 2000 -- Alex Rodriguez finally can start talking withother teams.
The All-Star shortstop, among 33 players who filed for freeagency Monday, said for more than a year that he didn’t want totalk money with the Seattle Mariners until after he became a freeagent.
“He just wants a club that is going to be consistentlycommitted to making the team competitive every year,” said the25-year-old shortstop’s agent, Scott Boras.
“He’s been to the playoffs three times as a Mariner. But thefact is, he just wants to be in a position where the club isreally, really committed, where he has a chance to go to springtraining every year and know his club has to win it all. He wantsto have repeat opportunities to win the world championship.”
The Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets arethought to be interested in Rodriguez.
Some have said the Yankees also might be interested in him, eventhough World Series MVP Derek Jeter is their shortstop. Followingtwo down years by Scott Brosius, the Yankees might be interested inan upgrade at third base.
“Hasn’t Brian Cashman said Alex Rodriguez is the best player inthe game?” Boras said. “I would say you wouldn’t move the bestplayer in the game [to third base], if that is what he is.”
Delgado Deal Ups the Ante
Before the World Series, Toronto signed Carlos Delgado to a $68million, four-year contract, a deal with a record average of $17million. Some have speculated Rodriguez, who hit .316 with 41homers and 132, could command an average of $20 million a year ormore.
“Alex and I spent a good week together last week,” Boras said.“We’ve kind of identified what his goals are. I don’t think we’re going to be visiting that many cities. We’re going to be visitingsome.
“Free agency has a lot of blind curves. The one place he knowsand is very comfortable with is Seattle, and they’re going to be amajor part of the process.”
Boras will go to the general managers’ meetings this weekend inAmelia Island, Fla.
“I’m going to begin the process of talking to clubs there,” hesaid.
Other Filings, Deals
Also filing Monday were Chicago Cubs first baseman Mark Grace,Atlanta first baseman Andres Galarraga, Chicago White Sox shortstopJose Valentin, Cleveland first baseman David Segui, Torontoshortstop Alex Gonzalez, San Francisco outfielder Ellis Burks andLos Angeles right-handers Darren Dreifort and Ismael Valdes. (See sidebar.)
While the New York Yankees were given a parade up Broadway, twoplayers on their 40-man roster filed: outfielders Luis Polonia andRoberto Kelly, who spent most of the season on the disabled list.
St. Louis, beaten by the Mets in the NL championship series,declined a $6 million option on right-hander Pat Hentgen, electingto pay a $600,000 buyout to the one-time AL Cy Young Award winner.
St. Louis also declined a $1.3 million option on 43-year-oldleft-hander Jesse Orosco and a $2.5 million option on left-hander32-year-old left-hander Scott Radinsky, who gets a $500,000 buyout.The Cardinals exercised an $850,000 option on catcher Mike Matheny,who missed the playoffs after accidentally cutting two tendons inhis right ring finger with a hunting knife.
Infielder Luis Lopez agreed to a $1.4 million, two-year contractwith the Milwaukee Brewers, who also exercised a $1.6 millionoption on pitcher Curtis Leskanic.
Leskanic finished 39 games this year. If he had finished onemore, the salary of the option year would have increased to $2.2million.
San Diego declined a $4 million option on second baseman BretBoone, electing to pay a $250,000 buyout.
Anaheim gave right-hander Tim Belcher, 4-5 with a 6.86 ERA, a $1million buyout rather than exercise a $5.1 million option. TheAngels also turned down a $3.45 million option on shortstop GaryDiSarcina, limited to 38 at-bats this year because of injuries, andexercised a $1.15 million option on right-hander ShigetoshiHasegawa.
Among the 155 players potentially eligible for free agency, 43have filed since the end of the World Series. The deadline to fileis Nov. 10.