azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Ed Price, Tribune
The Diamondbacks on Tuesday ended their chance of re-signing nine free agents, including right fielder Danny Bautista, by not offering them arbitration.
Arizona did offer arbitration to first baseman Richie Sexson, extending the opportunity to sign him until Jan. 8 — which still seems unlikely. And outfielder Quinton McCracken agreed to a minor league deal with an invitation to big-league spring training.
The D-Backs did not offer arbitration to Bautista; infielders Carlos Baerga and Greg Colbrunn; left-hander Jeff Fassero; and right-handers Mike Fetters, Matt Mantei, Shane Reynolds, Scott Service and Steve Sparks.
Arizona can not re-sign any of those players before May 1.
Despite Tuesday's arbitration offer, the Diamondbacks and Sexson seem to be at a stalemate — perhaps more than $2 million a year apart on what Sexson would earn if healthy (he was limited to 23 games this year by a shoulder injury).
Sexson's agent, Casey Close, responded to Arizona's Thanksgiving week offer with a counterproposal, but the D-Backs do not plan to make another offer.
“We've done the best we can do,” said Ken Kendrick, one of Arizona's controlling investors.
Close did not return a phone call Tuesday.
It seems the only way the Diamondbacks and Sexson would renew talks is if offers from other teams — Baltimore, Seattle and the New York Mets are interested — are not up to Sexson's expectations.
By offering arbitration to Sexson, the D-Backs will get compensation if he signs elsewhere. Since Sexson is a “Type A” free agent, if he goes to another team Arizona would get that team's first- or second-round pick (a team cannot lose one of the top 15 choices in the draft) and a supplemental pick between the first two rounds.
Sexson has until Dec. 19 to accept the arbitration offer. If he does, he is under contract to the Diamondbacks. If he rejects it, he can sign with Arizona through Jan. 8.
Among free agents of interest to the Diamondbacks, Colorado was not expected to offer arbitration to shortstop Royce Clayton nor outfielder Jeromy Burnitz, and it was unknown whether Atlanta offered arbitration to right-hander Russ Ortiz (infielder Troy Glaus and outfielder David Dellucci are “Type C” free agents and thus would not have cost a pick anyway).
The competition for Dellucci picked up when Texas, for which he played this year, added a second guaranteed year to its offer. Florida is also pursuing Dellucci.
Clayton and agent Rick Licht will visit with Arizona management today.
“We're hopeful that (today) will be productive,” Licht said.
Bautista, 32, had a career year in 2004, setting career highs in home runs (11), RBIs (65) and hits (154) while batting .286. He spent more than 4 1/2 seasons with the D-Backs, since being acquired in June 2000 from Florida in exchange for Andy Fox.
Had Arizona offered arbitration to Bautista, he could have accepted and been guaranteed $3.2 million next year — and more likely would have earned a raise from last year's $4 million salary.
“We discussed an offer, but it was insufficient,” D-Backs general manager Joe
Garagiola Jr. said.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=32798
The Diamondbacks on Tuesday ended their chance of re-signing nine free agents, including right fielder Danny Bautista, by not offering them arbitration.
Arizona did offer arbitration to first baseman Richie Sexson, extending the opportunity to sign him until Jan. 8 — which still seems unlikely. And outfielder Quinton McCracken agreed to a minor league deal with an invitation to big-league spring training.
The D-Backs did not offer arbitration to Bautista; infielders Carlos Baerga and Greg Colbrunn; left-hander Jeff Fassero; and right-handers Mike Fetters, Matt Mantei, Shane Reynolds, Scott Service and Steve Sparks.
Arizona can not re-sign any of those players before May 1.
Despite Tuesday's arbitration offer, the Diamondbacks and Sexson seem to be at a stalemate — perhaps more than $2 million a year apart on what Sexson would earn if healthy (he was limited to 23 games this year by a shoulder injury).
Sexson's agent, Casey Close, responded to Arizona's Thanksgiving week offer with a counterproposal, but the D-Backs do not plan to make another offer.
“We've done the best we can do,” said Ken Kendrick, one of Arizona's controlling investors.
Close did not return a phone call Tuesday.
It seems the only way the Diamondbacks and Sexson would renew talks is if offers from other teams — Baltimore, Seattle and the New York Mets are interested — are not up to Sexson's expectations.
By offering arbitration to Sexson, the D-Backs will get compensation if he signs elsewhere. Since Sexson is a “Type A” free agent, if he goes to another team Arizona would get that team's first- or second-round pick (a team cannot lose one of the top 15 choices in the draft) and a supplemental pick between the first two rounds.
Sexson has until Dec. 19 to accept the arbitration offer. If he does, he is under contract to the Diamondbacks. If he rejects it, he can sign with Arizona through Jan. 8.
Among free agents of interest to the Diamondbacks, Colorado was not expected to offer arbitration to shortstop Royce Clayton nor outfielder Jeromy Burnitz, and it was unknown whether Atlanta offered arbitration to right-hander Russ Ortiz (infielder Troy Glaus and outfielder David Dellucci are “Type C” free agents and thus would not have cost a pick anyway).
The competition for Dellucci picked up when Texas, for which he played this year, added a second guaranteed year to its offer. Florida is also pursuing Dellucci.
Clayton and agent Rick Licht will visit with Arizona management today.
“We're hopeful that (today) will be productive,” Licht said.
Bautista, 32, had a career year in 2004, setting career highs in home runs (11), RBIs (65) and hits (154) while batting .286. He spent more than 4 1/2 seasons with the D-Backs, since being acquired in June 2000 from Florida in exchange for Andy Fox.
Had Arizona offered arbitration to Bautista, he could have accepted and been guaranteed $3.2 million next year — and more likely would have earned a raise from last year's $4 million salary.
“We discussed an offer, but it was insufficient,” D-Backs general manager Joe
Garagiola Jr. said.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=32798
