azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 8, 2004 12:00 AM
Right fielder Danny Bautista and relief pitcher Matt Mantei won't be back with the Diamondbacks this season and the chances of Richie Sexson returning look bleak, but the club did choose to offer salary arbitration to the free-agent first baseman Tuesday.
As expected, Sexson was the only one of 11 free agents on the team to be offered arbitration rights, which allows Arizona to continue negotiating with the power hitter until Jan. 8 and also secures two high draft picks as compensation should he sign with another team.
Arizona considered re-signing Bautista, but he didn't like the club's offer and directed his agent to look at other clubs. The other free agents not tendered arbitration rights were pitchers Mike Fetters, Steve Sparks, Shane Reynolds, Jeff Fassero and Scott Service, infielders Carlos Baerga and Greg Colbrunn, and outfielder Quinton McCracken.
McCracken, however, agreed to a minor-league contract Tuesday night with an invitation to spring training and a chance to make the 25-man active roster.
Sexson has declined every offer made by Diamondbacks management. His agent made a counterproposal and has solicited offers from the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets. Arizona has likely made its final sales pitch to him.
As for Mantei, his five-plus seasons in Arizona were mixed with success, failure and injury problems.
He posted 22 saves for the club in 1999 following a trade from Florida, helping the Diamondbacks capture the National League West title. He bounced back from arm trouble to record 29 saves in 2003, but then injuries and inconsistency derailed him this past season.
"He was frustrated he couldn't get out on the field more. It was frustrating to all of us. . . . When he was out there, he could be dominating," General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said. "In 1999, it's fair to say we would not have won the division had we not made that trade and brought him in to be the closer. But frustration probably sums it up in one word."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/1208dbacks1208.html
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 8, 2004 12:00 AM
Right fielder Danny Bautista and relief pitcher Matt Mantei won't be back with the Diamondbacks this season and the chances of Richie Sexson returning look bleak, but the club did choose to offer salary arbitration to the free-agent first baseman Tuesday.
As expected, Sexson was the only one of 11 free agents on the team to be offered arbitration rights, which allows Arizona to continue negotiating with the power hitter until Jan. 8 and also secures two high draft picks as compensation should he sign with another team.
Arizona considered re-signing Bautista, but he didn't like the club's offer and directed his agent to look at other clubs. The other free agents not tendered arbitration rights were pitchers Mike Fetters, Steve Sparks, Shane Reynolds, Jeff Fassero and Scott Service, infielders Carlos Baerga and Greg Colbrunn, and outfielder Quinton McCracken.
McCracken, however, agreed to a minor-league contract Tuesday night with an invitation to spring training and a chance to make the 25-man active roster.
Sexson has declined every offer made by Diamondbacks management. His agent made a counterproposal and has solicited offers from the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets. Arizona has likely made its final sales pitch to him.
As for Mantei, his five-plus seasons in Arizona were mixed with success, failure and injury problems.
He posted 22 saves for the club in 1999 following a trade from Florida, helping the Diamondbacks capture the National League West title. He bounced back from arm trouble to record 29 saves in 2003, but then injuries and inconsistency derailed him this past season.
"He was frustrated he couldn't get out on the field more. It was frustrating to all of us. . . . When he was out there, he could be dominating," General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said. "In 1999, it's fair to say we would not have won the division had we not made that trade and brought him in to be the closer. But frustration probably sums it up in one word."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/1208dbacks1208.html
