azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Ed Price, Tribune
A pair of meetings in the coming days will address the two top items on the Diamondbacks’ agenda: hiring a manager and trying to retain first baseman Richie Sexson.
Arizona officials plan to meet in person next week with Sexson’s agent, Casey Close, to discuss a contract extension for the slugger.
Before that, perhaps even today, D-Backs front-office personnel who took part in the first round of managerial interviews — team president Rich Dozer, general manager Joe Garagiola Jr., senior assistant GM Sandy Johnson and assistant GM Bob Miller —will get together with CEO Jeff Moorad and general partner Ken Kendrick to plan the rest of the search.
They will pick finalists from the eight already interviewed: Manny Acta, who spent the past three seasons as Montreal Expos third-base coach; Wally Backman, who managed the D-Backs’ Class A Lancaster team this year; broadcaster and former Arizona first baseman Mark Grace; Texas Rangers first-base coach DeMarlo Hale; Anaheim Angels bench coach Joe Maddon; former Arizona bench coach and Seattle manager Bob Melvin; Al Pedrique, who managed the Diamondbacks the second half of this season; and Colorado Rockies bench coach Jamie Quirk.
With Sexson having missed most of the 2004 season because of a shoulder injury that required surgery, the D-Backs seem reluctant to guarantee multiple years, instead having offered options that kick in based on playing time.
So far, Sexson’s camp has not been interested in such a deal.
"There’s a percentage chance this injury could reoccur," Kendrick said, "and it is a legitimate concern for us. I don’t know at this point how to get it to the goal line with some protection on our side. I know it’s still being discussed and hopefully it can still be resolved."
Sexson can declare free agency after the World Series and discuss deals with other teams in mid-November. Seattle and the New York Mets are among teams who could be interested in signing him.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=29973
A pair of meetings in the coming days will address the two top items on the Diamondbacks’ agenda: hiring a manager and trying to retain first baseman Richie Sexson.
Arizona officials plan to meet in person next week with Sexson’s agent, Casey Close, to discuss a contract extension for the slugger.
Before that, perhaps even today, D-Backs front-office personnel who took part in the first round of managerial interviews — team president Rich Dozer, general manager Joe Garagiola Jr., senior assistant GM Sandy Johnson and assistant GM Bob Miller —will get together with CEO Jeff Moorad and general partner Ken Kendrick to plan the rest of the search.
They will pick finalists from the eight already interviewed: Manny Acta, who spent the past three seasons as Montreal Expos third-base coach; Wally Backman, who managed the D-Backs’ Class A Lancaster team this year; broadcaster and former Arizona first baseman Mark Grace; Texas Rangers first-base coach DeMarlo Hale; Anaheim Angels bench coach Joe Maddon; former Arizona bench coach and Seattle manager Bob Melvin; Al Pedrique, who managed the Diamondbacks the second half of this season; and Colorado Rockies bench coach Jamie Quirk.
With Sexson having missed most of the 2004 season because of a shoulder injury that required surgery, the D-Backs seem reluctant to guarantee multiple years, instead having offered options that kick in based on playing time.
So far, Sexson’s camp has not been interested in such a deal.
"There’s a percentage chance this injury could reoccur," Kendrick said, "and it is a legitimate concern for us. I don’t know at this point how to get it to the goal line with some protection on our side. I know it’s still being discussed and hopefully it can still be resolved."
Sexson can declare free agency after the World Series and discuss deals with other teams in mid-November. Seattle and the New York Mets are among teams who could be interested in signing him.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=29973
