azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 1, 2005 12:00 AM
The Diamondbacks are continuing to explore their options in center field and an answer, in some form, could come by the end of the week.
The team is talking with at least four clubs in trying to find an everyday player to replace Steve Finley, who was dealt to the Dodgers at last year's trading deadline and then signed a two-year contract as a free agent with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Arizona has been talking with the Oakland A's regarding Eric Byrnes and the New York Mets regarding Mike Cameron, but free agent Jeromy Burnitz, who hit 37 home runs with 110 RBIs last season for Colorado, also remains a viable option.
General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. acknowledged he hadn't recently spoken with Burnitz's agent, Howard Simon, but there was a feeling inside the organization that Burnitz would be targeted this week, especially if trade talks stall with Byrnes or Cameron. Simon did not return a phone message Monday.
Any one of those three players would fit Arizona's needs, but if nothing comes to fruition, the Diamondbacks could decide to stick with raw prospect Luis Terrero. The fact that at least two other teams are in the mix as it relates to a trade, however, increases the club's options.
"We're continuing to explore those possibilities," Garagiola said, refusing further comment.
Short hops
Garagiola spoke Monday with the agent for left-handed pitcher Casey Fossum, the club's lone, remaining unsigned arbitration-eligible player, but he indicated the conversation yielded little progress. Fossum's arbitration hearing is scheduled for Feb. 7 in Tampa.
• Right-handed reliever Jose Valverde, who underwent late-season surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, has begun a throwing program that includes at least three sessions off the mound and should be ready for the start of spring training, according to organizational reports.
• The club still is deciding its next course of action with shortstop Stephen Drew, its unsigned first-round pick from last year's draft.
A new contract proposal could be offered during the next several days, although Garagiola and scouting director Mike Rizzo will be leaving the Valley today for Mazatlan, Mexico, to catch the Caribbean World Series before returning on Friday.
• Manager Bob Melvin will be participating in the FBR/Xerox Silver Pro-Am event Wednesday at the TPC Stadium Course in Scottsdale.
"I spent today dusting the cobwebs off my clubs," Melvin said Monday.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/0201dbnotes0201.html
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 1, 2005 12:00 AM
The Diamondbacks are continuing to explore their options in center field and an answer, in some form, could come by the end of the week.
The team is talking with at least four clubs in trying to find an everyday player to replace Steve Finley, who was dealt to the Dodgers at last year's trading deadline and then signed a two-year contract as a free agent with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Arizona has been talking with the Oakland A's regarding Eric Byrnes and the New York Mets regarding Mike Cameron, but free agent Jeromy Burnitz, who hit 37 home runs with 110 RBIs last season for Colorado, also remains a viable option.
General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. acknowledged he hadn't recently spoken with Burnitz's agent, Howard Simon, but there was a feeling inside the organization that Burnitz would be targeted this week, especially if trade talks stall with Byrnes or Cameron. Simon did not return a phone message Monday.
Any one of those three players would fit Arizona's needs, but if nothing comes to fruition, the Diamondbacks could decide to stick with raw prospect Luis Terrero. The fact that at least two other teams are in the mix as it relates to a trade, however, increases the club's options.
"We're continuing to explore those possibilities," Garagiola said, refusing further comment.
Short hops
Garagiola spoke Monday with the agent for left-handed pitcher Casey Fossum, the club's lone, remaining unsigned arbitration-eligible player, but he indicated the conversation yielded little progress. Fossum's arbitration hearing is scheduled for Feb. 7 in Tampa.
• Right-handed reliever Jose Valverde, who underwent late-season surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, has begun a throwing program that includes at least three sessions off the mound and should be ready for the start of spring training, according to organizational reports.
• The club still is deciding its next course of action with shortstop Stephen Drew, its unsigned first-round pick from last year's draft.
A new contract proposal could be offered during the next several days, although Garagiola and scouting director Mike Rizzo will be leaving the Valley today for Mazatlan, Mexico, to catch the Caribbean World Series before returning on Friday.
• Manager Bob Melvin will be participating in the FBR/Xerox Silver Pro-Am event Wednesday at the TPC Stadium Course in Scottsdale.
"I spent today dusting the cobwebs off my clubs," Melvin said Monday.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/0201dbnotes0201.html
