azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Team loses exclusive rights to 1B
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 12, 2004 12:00 AM
The Diamondbacks today lost their exclusive negotiating rights to first baseman Richie Sexson, who, as expected, now will begin testing his value on the free-agent market.
If Sexson receives an offer to his liking, however, he and his representatives may not give the Diamondbacks an opportunity to match it. That would effectively end Sexson's career in Arizona after he appeared in only 23 games due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
Sexson's agent, Casey Close, wouldn't discuss his client's chances on returning to the Diamondbacks and refused to say whether Arizona would get another shot to pitch a new deal if an attractive offer came along elsewhere.
"I'm not prepared to answer that," Close said Thursday. " . . . I expect we'll continue to have discussions, but we'll see (today) if anything changes."
Close spoke with Diamondbacks General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. later in the day, but Garagiola revealed very little of their conversation. "They have other options they can consider and we have other options we can consider," Garagiola said. "But that doesn't preclude us in any way of being prepared to talk and seeing if there's some way to get this done."
The Diamondbacks offered Sexson a three-year deal, but citing that their medical staff believes there is at least a 10 percent chance the injury may recur, the team hasn't wavered on its stance of demanding part of Sexson's salary be based on plate appearances and games played.
Sexson rejected the offer.
The New York Mets, Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers appear to be the front-runners for Sexson, who collected 119 homers and 351 RBIs during his last three seasons with the Brewers.
Unit alert
Despite comments made in the Sporting News from one of Randy Johnson's agents intimating it might be best for all concerned that the Diamondbacks trade the ace pitcher, Diamondbacks General Partner Ken Kendrick reiterated that it remains the club's primary wish to sign Johnson to a multiyear contract extension.
The New York Yankees are among the top suitors.
"We have a contract with him throughout the end of next year and we have interest in having Randy be a Diamondback for the rest of his baseball career," Kendrick said. "We hope we can sit down and talk with him about that."
Several clubs have talked with Garagiola about Johnson during this week's GM meetings in Florida. Garagiola said he planned to meet with Johnson's representatives, Alan Nero, who made the comments in the Sporting News, and Barry Meister, during the Dec. 10-13 owners meetings in Anaheim.
Pedrique joins Astros
Al Pedrique has opted not to remain on the coaching staff as new manager Bob Melvin's third base coach, instead choosing to accept a position in the Houston Astros organization that includes some front-office work and possibly some help in the team's player development area.
Pedrique originally had agreed to a one-year contract to return to the Diamondbacks, but when the Astros called and Arizona countered with a two-year offer, he decided to take the job with Houston. Pedrique managed in the Astros minor league system before joining Arizona four years ago.
Duquette not interested
Kendrick confirmed that the team met this week with former Boston Red Sox GM Dan Duquette about a possible baseball operations role with the Diamondbacks. But Duquette, who also has previous front-office ties to the Expos and Mariners, told team officials that the job isn't what he has in mind.
The Diamondbacks are searching for a replacement for Sandy Johnson, who resigned as vice president and assistant GM to become a special assistant with the Mets.
Broadcast news
Amid reports that the Chicago Cubs may try to lure play-by-play man Thom Brennaman back to the Windy City, Diamondbacks President Rich Dozer said he wanted Brennaman, 41, to finish his career in Arizona and planned to offer the announcer a long-term contract extension.
"I think it's awesome," said Brennaman, who is entering the final year of his present deal. "We've been talking about it for a little while now and it's something the Diamondbacks said they wanted to do all along. They've been phenomenal."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/1112dbacksnb1112.html
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 12, 2004 12:00 AM
The Diamondbacks today lost their exclusive negotiating rights to first baseman Richie Sexson, who, as expected, now will begin testing his value on the free-agent market.
If Sexson receives an offer to his liking, however, he and his representatives may not give the Diamondbacks an opportunity to match it. That would effectively end Sexson's career in Arizona after he appeared in only 23 games due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
Sexson's agent, Casey Close, wouldn't discuss his client's chances on returning to the Diamondbacks and refused to say whether Arizona would get another shot to pitch a new deal if an attractive offer came along elsewhere.
"I'm not prepared to answer that," Close said Thursday. " . . . I expect we'll continue to have discussions, but we'll see (today) if anything changes."
Close spoke with Diamondbacks General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. later in the day, but Garagiola revealed very little of their conversation. "They have other options they can consider and we have other options we can consider," Garagiola said. "But that doesn't preclude us in any way of being prepared to talk and seeing if there's some way to get this done."
The Diamondbacks offered Sexson a three-year deal, but citing that their medical staff believes there is at least a 10 percent chance the injury may recur, the team hasn't wavered on its stance of demanding part of Sexson's salary be based on plate appearances and games played.
Sexson rejected the offer.
The New York Mets, Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers appear to be the front-runners for Sexson, who collected 119 homers and 351 RBIs during his last three seasons with the Brewers.
Unit alert
Despite comments made in the Sporting News from one of Randy Johnson's agents intimating it might be best for all concerned that the Diamondbacks trade the ace pitcher, Diamondbacks General Partner Ken Kendrick reiterated that it remains the club's primary wish to sign Johnson to a multiyear contract extension.
The New York Yankees are among the top suitors.
"We have a contract with him throughout the end of next year and we have interest in having Randy be a Diamondback for the rest of his baseball career," Kendrick said. "We hope we can sit down and talk with him about that."
Several clubs have talked with Garagiola about Johnson during this week's GM meetings in Florida. Garagiola said he planned to meet with Johnson's representatives, Alan Nero, who made the comments in the Sporting News, and Barry Meister, during the Dec. 10-13 owners meetings in Anaheim.
Pedrique joins Astros
Al Pedrique has opted not to remain on the coaching staff as new manager Bob Melvin's third base coach, instead choosing to accept a position in the Houston Astros organization that includes some front-office work and possibly some help in the team's player development area.
Pedrique originally had agreed to a one-year contract to return to the Diamondbacks, but when the Astros called and Arizona countered with a two-year offer, he decided to take the job with Houston. Pedrique managed in the Astros minor league system before joining Arizona four years ago.
Duquette not interested
Kendrick confirmed that the team met this week with former Boston Red Sox GM Dan Duquette about a possible baseball operations role with the Diamondbacks. But Duquette, who also has previous front-office ties to the Expos and Mariners, told team officials that the job isn't what he has in mind.
The Diamondbacks are searching for a replacement for Sandy Johnson, who resigned as vice president and assistant GM to become a special assistant with the Mets.
Broadcast news
Amid reports that the Chicago Cubs may try to lure play-by-play man Thom Brennaman back to the Windy City, Diamondbacks President Rich Dozer said he wanted Brennaman, 41, to finish his career in Arizona and planned to offer the announcer a long-term contract extension.
"I think it's awesome," said Brennaman, who is entering the final year of his present deal. "We've been talking about it for a little while now and it's something the Diamondbacks said they wanted to do all along. They've been phenomenal."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/1112dbacksnb1112.html
