Marlins may get Yankees' Contreras in 3-way deal
By Mike Berardino
Staff writer
Posted July 29 2004
[font=Verdana,Arial, Helvetica]Determined to acquire five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson, the New York Yankees have enlisted the Marlins' services.
With the Yankees lacking sufficient prospects to entice the Arizona Diamondbacks, Johnson's current employer, the Marlins could swap several prospects and come out with Yankees right-hander Jose Contreras and Arizona catcher Brent Mayne.
As the Marlins continued to crunch the numbers Wednesday in their complex bid for Rockies right fielder Larry Walker, they also spent significant time on the Contreras plan. The former Cuban defector, who has both started and relieved during his time in pinstripes, would serve as a power setup man for Marlins closer Armando Benitez.
He would also serve as insurance in case Benitez's inflamed right elbow becomes a larger problem. The Marlins scouted Contreras' last start, Sunday in Boston; he is 8-4 with a 5.36 ERA and is due to start again today in New York on short rest.
A baseball official familiar with the talks said Wednesday the potential three-way deal was "simmering," with a fair chance of reaching completion before Saturday's 4 p.m. nonwaiver trade deadline.
A second baseball official confirmed the three-way scenario was an active discussion, but neither player's agent had been approached. Both Johnson and Contreras have the contractual right to block any deal.
"I have not received any phone calls from the Yankees or anybody representing the Yankees regarding Jose Contreras," Jaime Torres, the pitcher's agent, said Wednesday. "I would think I would know, because he would have to agree to any deal."
Double-A first baseman Jason Stokes would be the likely centerpiece of the Marlins' contribution, sources said, possibly along with Double-A lefty Bill Murphy, the Marlins' only representative at the recent Futures Game, and outfielder Abraham Nunez.
All three would go to Arizona along with a couple of Yankees prospects, possibly Triple-A catcher Dioner Navarro and Class A third baseman Eric Duncan. [/font]
[font=Verdana,Arial, Helvetica]Several factors, however, could cause the deal to collapse.
Contreras, 32, could block the trade, although that's not expected to be a problem in the Marlins' case. Contreras, whose wife and two children recently joined him in the U.S., makes his offseason home in Tampa.
The well-heeled Yankees would have to pay a significant chunk of the $19.5 million that remains on Contreras' contract through 2006.
Arizona is said to prefer dealing Johnson to the Anaheim Angels, who could offer a better package of prospects than the Marlins and Yankees combined.
Johnson could reject the deal, even though the Yankees are reportedly his first choice.
Central Baseball might have a problem with too much Yankees money changing hands. It reworked last year's deadline deal with Cincinnati that brought reliever Gabe White to New York.
Should Johnson land with the Angels, the Marlins could still benefit from the fallout. The clubs have discussed dealing Angels outfielder Jose Guillen for Double-A pitcher Randy Messenger and another prospect.
Guillen is considered a fallback in case the Marlins are unable to land Walker, whose $12.5 million annual salary would help him clear waivers next month. Guillen, 28, is due $4.6 million through next year.
The names of Class A shortstop Robert Andino and Class A pitcher Yorman Bazardo have surfaced in talks with the Rockies, who had previously targeted lefties Scott Olsen and Bill Murphy and Double-A right-hander Ronald Belizario.
Arizona and the Marlins also have discussed a three-way deal with San Diego. The Padres would get outfielder Steve Finley, the Diamondbacks would get a package of Marlins prospects, but it's unclear what the Marlins would receive.
Padres mentioned in trade reports include outfielders Jay Payton and Terrence Long and reliever Jay Witasick.
The Dodgers have interest in Marlins right-hander Brad Penny, possibly for catcher Paul Lo Duca, but that could be dependent on Contreras coming south. [/font]
By Mike Berardino
Staff writer
Posted July 29 2004
[font=Verdana,Arial, Helvetica]Determined to acquire five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson, the New York Yankees have enlisted the Marlins' services.
With the Yankees lacking sufficient prospects to entice the Arizona Diamondbacks, Johnson's current employer, the Marlins could swap several prospects and come out with Yankees right-hander Jose Contreras and Arizona catcher Brent Mayne.
As the Marlins continued to crunch the numbers Wednesday in their complex bid for Rockies right fielder Larry Walker, they also spent significant time on the Contreras plan. The former Cuban defector, who has both started and relieved during his time in pinstripes, would serve as a power setup man for Marlins closer Armando Benitez.
He would also serve as insurance in case Benitez's inflamed right elbow becomes a larger problem. The Marlins scouted Contreras' last start, Sunday in Boston; he is 8-4 with a 5.36 ERA and is due to start again today in New York on short rest.
A baseball official familiar with the talks said Wednesday the potential three-way deal was "simmering," with a fair chance of reaching completion before Saturday's 4 p.m. nonwaiver trade deadline.
A second baseball official confirmed the three-way scenario was an active discussion, but neither player's agent had been approached. Both Johnson and Contreras have the contractual right to block any deal.
"I have not received any phone calls from the Yankees or anybody representing the Yankees regarding Jose Contreras," Jaime Torres, the pitcher's agent, said Wednesday. "I would think I would know, because he would have to agree to any deal."
Double-A first baseman Jason Stokes would be the likely centerpiece of the Marlins' contribution, sources said, possibly along with Double-A lefty Bill Murphy, the Marlins' only representative at the recent Futures Game, and outfielder Abraham Nunez.
All three would go to Arizona along with a couple of Yankees prospects, possibly Triple-A catcher Dioner Navarro and Class A third baseman Eric Duncan. [/font]
[font=Verdana,Arial, Helvetica]Several factors, however, could cause the deal to collapse.
Contreras, 32, could block the trade, although that's not expected to be a problem in the Marlins' case. Contreras, whose wife and two children recently joined him in the U.S., makes his offseason home in Tampa.
The well-heeled Yankees would have to pay a significant chunk of the $19.5 million that remains on Contreras' contract through 2006.
Arizona is said to prefer dealing Johnson to the Anaheim Angels, who could offer a better package of prospects than the Marlins and Yankees combined.
Johnson could reject the deal, even though the Yankees are reportedly his first choice.
Central Baseball might have a problem with too much Yankees money changing hands. It reworked last year's deadline deal with Cincinnati that brought reliever Gabe White to New York.
Should Johnson land with the Angels, the Marlins could still benefit from the fallout. The clubs have discussed dealing Angels outfielder Jose Guillen for Double-A pitcher Randy Messenger and another prospect.
Guillen is considered a fallback in case the Marlins are unable to land Walker, whose $12.5 million annual salary would help him clear waivers next month. Guillen, 28, is due $4.6 million through next year.
The names of Class A shortstop Robert Andino and Class A pitcher Yorman Bazardo have surfaced in talks with the Rockies, who had previously targeted lefties Scott Olsen and Bill Murphy and Double-A right-hander Ronald Belizario.
Arizona and the Marlins also have discussed a three-way deal with San Diego. The Padres would get outfielder Steve Finley, the Diamondbacks would get a package of Marlins prospects, but it's unclear what the Marlins would receive.
Padres mentioned in trade reports include outfielders Jay Payton and Terrence Long and reliever Jay Witasick.
The Dodgers have interest in Marlins right-hander Brad Penny, possibly for catcher Paul Lo Duca, but that could be dependent on Contreras coming south. [/font]
