BASEBALL ROUNDUP \ News and notes
Yankees: A day after securing the negotiating rights for Kei Igawa, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman placed a call to the Japanese pitcher's agent, Arn Tellem. Cashman and Tellem have worked out contracts for Hideki Matsui, Mike Mussina and Jason Giambi, so striking a deal for Igawa doesn't figure to be difficult. "If we can secure him, we'll put him in the back of the rotation," Cashman said Wednesday. "I've seen him on video and we've had multiple looks over the last several years." New York gained his rights with a bid of 26,000,194 -- the last three digits matching Igawa's strikeout total this year. Cashman credited the idea of the extra 194 to assistant general manager Jean Afterman, who gained insight into Japanese players when she worked for agent Don Nomura. "The story within the story," Cashman said. "A little sign of respect." New York has until the end of Dec. 28 to agree to a contract with Igawa. If there isn't a deal, his rights revert to the Hanshin Tigers and the Yankees don't have to pay the fee they bid. Igawa went 14-9 last season with a 2.97 ERA. He tied for the Central League lead in strikeouts -- he won strikeout titles in 2002 and 2004. He already is looking ahead to possible pitching duels with Daisuke Matsuzaka. Boston bid 51,111,111 for Matsuzaka and has until Dec. 14 to sign the Seibu Lions' ace, the MVP of the World Baseball Classic.
Angels: Gary Matthews Jr. won't have to wait very long to find out what his former Texas Rangers teammates think about him jumping to the AL West-rival Los Angeles Angels. The clubs start next season with a three-game series at Angel Stadium. "Secretly, one of the players over there with the Rangers wants to play in Anaheim. I'm not going to name any names, but I know it and he knows it," Matthews said with a grin Wednesday at an introductory news conference one week after he agreed to a 50 million, five-year contract with the Angels. The switch-hitting center fielder will now experience the division's fiercest rivalry from the other side. It reached a boiling point on Aug. 16, when a bench-clearing brawl resulted in the suspensions of both managers and six players -- including Texas reliever Scott Feldman, who threw at Adam Kennedy in retaliation for two Rangers batters that were plunked by Kevin Gregg and Brendan Donnelly. A prelude to that fight took place 10 days earlier in Anaheim, when Rangers pitcher Adam Eaton gave up a three-run homer to Garret Anderson and threw his next pitch behind Juan Rivera. Eaton was immediately ejected by umpire Rob Drake, but was not suspended.
Orioles: Having spent the past month almost completely renovating their bullpen, the Baltimore Orioles will attempt to plug a few holes in their lineup when executives convene next week during baseball's winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Four relievers are likely to join the organization, with Chad Bradford and Scott Williamson signing contracts once they pass their physicals this week. Jamie Walker ( 12 million) and Danys Baez ( 19 million) already have agreed to three-year deals. Now the Orioles will turn their attention to finding a bat that can protect Miguel Tejada. "I would say that's probably on the top of the list at this time," executive vice president Mike Flanagan said Wednesday. Baltimore also is working to finalize a 2.75 million, one-year contract with first baseman Kevin Millar and a 900,000 one-year deal with backup catcher Paul Bako. "We had a lot of different feelers going out, Flanagan said. "It's not like he wasn't there and we didn't have any other plans. Before free agency, we had made a lot of contact with agents and ballclubs and really felt we got ahead of the market on touching base with all levels of free agents and most ballclubs. We really didn't miss a beat at all."
Blue Jays: General manager J.P. Ricciardi said Wednesday that catcher Rod Barajas backed out of a deal with Toronto after signing a terms sheet with the team. Making another move ahead of the winter meetings, Toronto reached a preliminary agreement on a 1.5 million, one-year contract with shortstop Royce Clayton, a person familiar with the negotiations said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been finalized. Ricciardi said Wednesday that he wanted to sign a shortstop and that he planned on having Aaron Hill play second base. "We like Royce Clayton," Ricciardi said. "We're close. I can't comment until a couple of things are done. I'll comment tomorrow." Clayton hit .258 with two homers and 40 RBIs for Washington and Cincinnati last season. His deal also would include performance bonuses. After Barajas switched agents and his deal with Toronto came undone, Toronto agreed to a 7.25 million, two-year contract with Gregg Zaun on Tuesday. Ricciardi said he's never experienced anything like it in his career. The Blue Jays planned on having Barajas and his family fly to Toronto for a news conference on Tuesday. "If your word doesn't mean anything any more, and your signature don't mean anything, what kind of world do we live in," Ricciardi said. "It's all right. It worked out for the better. ... If he feels uncomfortable, we don't want him here. I was disappointed in the fact that the player would go back on his word and a new agent just came in and said we have no deal." Barajas at first was represented by Gregg Clifton and Terry Bross, and he signed a letter of agreement for a 5.25 million, two-year contract that also included 500,000 in available performance bonuses over the two seasons. Barajas then switched to Dan Lozano, who had represented Barajas previously. Ricciardi said Lozano wanted to reopen negotiations, but the Blue Jays wanted no part of it.
Blue Jays: General manager J.P. Ricciardi said Wednesday that catcher Rod Barajas backed out of a deal with Toronto after signing a terms sheet with the team. Making another move ahead of the winter meetings, Toronto reached a preliminary agreement on a 1.5 million, one-year contract with shortstop Royce Clayton, a person familiar with the negotiations said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been finalized. Ricciardi said Wednesday that he wanted to sign a shortstop and that he planned on having Aaron Hill play second base. "We like Royce Clayton," Ricciardi said. "We're close. I can't comment until a couple of things are done. I'll comment tomorrow." Clayton hit .258 with two homers and 40 RBIs for Washington and Cincinnati last season. His deal also would include performance bonuses. After Barajas switched agents and his deal with Toronto came undone, Toronto agreed to a 7.25 million, two-year contract with Gregg Zaun on Tuesday. Ricciardi said he's never experienced anything like it in his career. The Blue Jays planned on having Barajas and his family fly to Toronto for a news conference on Tuesday. "If your word doesn't mean anything any more, and your signature don't mean anything, what kind of world do we live in," Ricciardi said. "It's all right. It worked out for the better. ... If he feels uncomfortable, we don't want him here. I was disappointed in the fact that the player would go back on his word and a new agent just came in and said we have no deal." Barajas at first was represented by Gregg Clifton and Terry Bross, and he signed a letter of agreement for a 5.25 million, two-year contract that also included 500,000 in available performance bonuses over the two seasons. Barajas then switched to Dan Lozano, who had represented Barajas previously. Ricciardi said Lozano wanted to reopen negotiations, but the Blue Jays wanted no part of it.
Associated Press