Truth & Rumors: Jan. 11, 2005

NFL

Now that the regular season is over, the NFL rumor mill is heating up. To keep you up to date, we've created a special edition of NFL Truth & Rumors.

MLB

With Carlos Beltran off the market, Carlos Delgaod is the hottest free-agent commodity. Jeff Gross/Getty Images • Pete McEntegart: The 10 Spot -- Tues., Jan. 11 • Truth & Rumors: Holmgren to stay in Seattle? • Albert Chen: Mets improve, Astros fade • Bill Scheft: The latest on Mickey Rooney's butt • More Blogs: Whitaker | Ballard | Wertheim Click here for Today's Sign of the Apocalypse, Game to Watch, Leading Off gallery and much more!

Carlos Beltran called Carlos Delgado on Sunday, hours after Beltran agreed in principle to a seven-year, $119 million contract with the Mets. Now the Mets will try to reach out to Delgado when they visit Puerto Rico with Beltran later this week. David Sloane, Delgado's agent, said the meeting was still being worked out. An executive from one of the teams that is courting Delgado said the Mets had told Sloane that they needed to be financially creative to be able to sign Delgado. The executive guessed that the Mets were trying to unload Cliff Floyd, who has two years and $13 million left on his contract, and use the savings in the pursuit of Delgado. But it is unlikely that the Mets will be able to trade Floyd unless they absorb some of his salary or trade him for a high-salaried player, which is what they were considering in discussions with the Cubs about Sammy Sosa. Those options would not do much to ease the financial weight of adding Delgado.
-- New York Times

When Fred Wilpon, the Mets' principal owner, was asked if GM Omar Minaya had the clearance to try to sign Delgado, he did not directly answer and later said the Mets would make that decision as a group.
-- New York Times

The Mets might pursue lighter-hitting first base options such as Doug Mientkiewicz, Travis Lee or John Olerud.
-- New York Post

Delgado is seeking a contract in the $15 million to $17 million annual range, a number that certainly would knock the Marlins out of the competition. Delgado has received multiyear offers from the Marlins, Mets and Orioles. His agent, David Sloane, has countered at least one with numbers much higher than the $35 million offered by the Marlins and $30 million by the Mets and Orioles. All were for three years. The Rangers and possibly the Giants and the Tigers also are interested in Delgado.
-- Palm Beach Post

The Rangers are dubious about the possibility of pulling off a double play that would send second baseman Alfonso Soriano to the Astros and free up money so they can sign Delgado. Unable to re-sign Beltran, the Astros now have another hole in their lineup. The Astros might look at acquiring outfielder Randy Winn from the Mariners and going with top prospect Chris Burke at second base. Another possibility is trading for the Mets' Mike Cameron. The Rangers would want Burke in any deal for Soriano. They would also want pitching, but the Rangers have been insulted by what the Astros have been offered in return for Soriano.
-- Fort Worth Star-Telegram

The Astros also have discussed trades involving Rays right fielder Jose Cruz Jr., and Phillies outfielder Marlon Byrd. The Rays likely wouldn't part with Cruz (who is scheduled to make $4 million in 2005) for less than a starting outfielder (Houston's Jason Lane?) and a pitching prospect.
-- Tampa Tribune

The Orioles trail the Marlins, Rangers and Mets in bidding for Delgado.
-- Washington Post

Crestfallen Orioles fans and the national sports media have harped on why the Orioles haven't done squat this winter. "The revenue loss for the Orioles with a team in the Washington market estimated by the accounting firm of Deloitte Touche is between $20 million and $30 million," Orioles executive Joe Foss said yesterday. There's reason to suspect these items might play some part in the equation.
-- Baltimore Sun

Baltimore and Florida are expected to consider Sosa if they can't land Delgado. -- Chicago Tribune

If the Cubs had signed Beltran instead of making a half-ass, lowball stab, Sosa wouldn't be needed. If they'd chased J.D. Drew, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for $55 million, Sosa wouldn't be needed. But GM Jim Hendry has had a disturbingly quiet offseason, leaving his team without a reliable closer, a reliable left fielder and sufficient production to offset any Sosa departure.
-- Chicago Sun-Times

The Devil Rays' pursuit of free-agent outfielder Danny Bautista could be affected by the Astros' failure to re-sign Beltran. The Astros also are believed to be interested in signing Bautista to add outfield depth. In addition to losing Beltran to the Mets, Houston will be without Lance Berkman (knee) until May at the earliest.
-- Tampa Tribune

Although Javier Vazquez landed in Arizona as part of the Randy Johnson deal, that might not be the right-hander's final destination. The Marlins are among the teams that have spoken with the Diamondbacks about Vazquez. While Vazquez can't force or reject a trade, he has made it clear he would prefer to pitch on the East Coast and in the NL. His representatives were due in Arizona early this week to discuss the team's plans for the pitcher. With the Phillies, Orioles and White Sox among the other clubs interested in Vazquez, the Diamondbacks might choose to trade him now rather than take a potential distraction into the season.
-- South Florida Sun-Sentinel

In what probably was their final significant move this offseason, the Dodgers agreed in principle Monday with free-agent catcher Paul Bako on a one-year, $650,000 contract. Free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe, with whom the Dodgers have agreed in principle on a four-year, $36 million contract, was in Los Angeles on Monday to undergo a physical examination, which he is believed to have passed.
-- Los Angeles Daily News

The top five free agent pitchers still available are 1) Esteban Loaiza, starter; 2) Aaron Sele, starter; 3) Shawn Estes, starter; 4) Robb Nen, closer 5) Jeff Nelson, reliever.
-- Florida Today

Arizona is pursuing Rockies Steve Reed and Jeromy Burnitz. Houston, after losing Beltran, remains a slight favorite to land Burnitz, who has indicated he would like to play center field. Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh and the Cubs also are interested.
-- Denver Post

The Indians re-signed Juan Gonzalez on Monday. He agreed to a minor-league deal that will pay him $600,000 if he makes the big-league club or $15,000 a month if he plays in the minors. GM Mark Shapiro would not confirm the deal, but a contract has been filed with the players association. "We don't have an agreement right now," said Shapiro. "We're working toward one." A clause in the contract says Gonzalez can ask for his release if he's not on the big-league roster by Feb. 20.
-- Cleveland Plain Dealer

Todd Ritchie, who threw the first pitch at PNC Park, is back with the Pirates, who yesterday signed him to a minor-league contract and invited him to spring training.
-- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A Blue Jays sensation when he logged an AL rookie-record 31 saves in 1999, free-agent reliever Billy Koch came back on board for a one-year offer of $900,000. Arizona's deal to ship infielder Shea Hillenbrand to Toronto is still pending agreement on the pitcher the Diamondbacks will get in return. Jays 3B Eric Hinske, who hasn't attracted many nibbles on the trade front, was reportedly okay with his pending move to first base to make room for incoming third baseman Corey Koskie. Now, he might also have to contend at first base with Hillenbrand, who, then again, might be best suited as a DH.
-- Toronto Star

NBA

Karl Malone has yet to tell the Spurs whether he will play for them. The Spurs also haven't asked. Yet. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he would like to make any significant addition to the team no later than shortly after the All-Star break, which ends Feb. 20. The trade deadline is Feb. 24. "The more time that goes by the more difficult it is," Popovich said. "Regardless of whether it's Karl Malone, if we were to make a trade, if we were going to add somebody, I would think you would have to make any changes to your team at the latest by then to give everybody time to integrate."
-- San Antonio Express-News

Cuttino Mobley, traded by the Magic with Michael Bradley, a reserve center, to the Kings for veteran Doug Christie during Monday's game, said the Magic dealt him because they didn't want to meet his asking price this summer. Mobley said he was going to opt out of his contract and become a free agent, but added he'd "rather stay" in Orlando. Magic GM John Weisbrod said Mobley's pending free-agency "was a factor," but he also saw an opportunity to improve on defense, one of Magic's most glaring deficiencies, and free up minutes for Hedo Turkoglu.
-- Orlando Sentinel

New Orleans has been shopping Baron Davis around the league, and you might think there'd be a fit in Boston with Gary Payton having spoken about leaving. However, the Hornets mentioned Paul Pierce when they talked to the Celts. End of discussion.
-- Boston Herald

A story in Monday's Portland Oregonian mentioned there was "dissension" among the Portland starters, and also that coach Maurice Cheeks was thinking of shaking up his starting lineup. While Cheeks has never had a losing season in Portland (he was 41-41 last season), the Blazers haven't won a playoff series in his tenure, even though they made the playoffs in two of his first three seasons. The Blazers have been mum on whether or not they'll pick up the option on Cheeks' contract for next season, that is if Cheeks even makes it through the rest of this season.
-- Camden Courier-Post

Isiah Thomas is aware that his best chance of improving the Knicks will be come summer, when Tim Thomas and Penny Hardaway are entering the final years of their contracts. Unlike last season, when Thomas needed to be bold and revamp the roster on the fly, he just doesn't have as many assets to trade this time around other than Michael Sweetney, Kurt Thomas and Trevor Ariza.
-- New York Daily News

As Denver continues to founder, GM Kiki Vandeweghe and his players continue to say the team's problems go beyond Michael Cooper. "I think he's done a really good job, I really do," Vandeweghe said. Though not in a rush, Vandeweghe said he's going to talk to candidates about the head coaching position. Still, the GM added he wants to give Cooper a "good chance" to prove himself.
-- Denver Post

Golden State was one of about a half-dozen teams reportedly interested in Eddy Curry, for whom the Bulls were taking offers after their 0-9 start. The Warriors failed to make an attractive enough offer, and with Curry's recent strong play, all trade talks appear to have been tabled.
-- San Francisco Chronicle

NHL

Detroit defenseman Niklas Lidstrom said players are prepared to sit out as long as necessary to avoid a salary cap. "We've been told about this (the possibility of a long lockout) for the last four or five years," Lidstrom said. "I know players have made sure they're set financially. Players are getting some money from the players association to cover expenses. But most players have set aside for this, knowing it will happen." As Europe's Jan. 31 player transfer deadline is approaching, it is likely Lidstrom, who has remained in the Detroit area, will commit to playing in Sweden for the remainder of the season.
-- Detroit News

Just what kind of damage is the NHL suffering with the season slipping away? The owners may have the money to outlast the players. But if it takes more than two years for the owners to get their salary cap, what spoils will be left for the victor? Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA's Mavericks, argues the NHL can survive a long lockout. "The issue isn't how many games are lost. The issue is what they do for fans when they come back," Cuban said "If they pass on cost savings to fans and do a good job of marketing the game, the NHL could come back much stronger."
-- Canadian Press

"They'll put themselves back 20 years," argued Los Angeles-based player agent Bobby Hull Jr. who represents his brother Brett. "If they think they can successfully ice 30 teams in the markets they're in right now and have a viable product, it's just not going to happen. Remember baseball? Baseball is just getting back to where it was before the '94 strike - and that's the national past time down here. Nobody gives a crap about hockey down here - nobody. I coach kids' hockey down here and you can start to see the disinterest in the game here with the kids."
-- Canadian Press

The damage has been felt in American sports stores. Year-end NHL merchandise sales in the U.S. in 2004 were down 59 per cent from 2003. SportScanInfo, a Florida research firm that tracks retails sales of sporting goods and team merchandise, says this past December -- when Christmas usually helps spike the numbers -- saw the NHL sell $6.9 million of licensed gear in the U.S. -- down 85 per cent from December 2003. "They got creamed, absolutely creamed," said Neil Schwartz, SportScanInfo director of marketing and business development.
-- Canadian Press

Former NHL coaching great Scotty Bowman isn't worried about Dominik Hasek's ability to perform in net for Ottawa despite the lockout and Hasek's not seeing much action the past two seasons. Hasek backstopped Bowman's Red Wings to the Stanley Cup in 2002. Bowman said, "I know what he can do. Even if he misses two or three years, he'll still be fine."
-- Ottawa Sun

Bowman, meanwhile, still thinks there could an NHL season. "I just find it hard to believe that we would go a year without having somebody being named the 2005 Stanley Cup champion. That being said, I know that they're going to have to find the right deal to satisfy both sides," he said.
-- Ottawa Sun

Soccer

The United States Soccer Federation and union that represents United States national team players remain locked in a labor dispute that resulted in the cancellation (one side says lockout, the other says strike) of training camps last month and this month. The federation says it will use nonunion players for a World Cup qualifying match Feb. 9 in Trinidad and Tobago if a new collective bargaining agreement is not reached by Feb. 1.
-- New York Times

Spanish football authorities have said they will do everything possible to halt the rise in racist chanting at matches after the referee reported incidents during Sunday's match between Athletico Madrid and Real Madrid. "After the worrying outbreaks of racism by a minority of fans during recent months, the Sports Council, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), the Football League and the Spanish Players Association want to reiterate their condemnation of this type of behavior," a statement on the RFEF Web site said on Monday. "They also want to reaffirm their determination to take tough action against any evidence of racism or xenophobia in Spanish Football." Real Madrid's Brazilian full back Roberto Carlos was particularly singled out by the crowd for abuse during the game at Athletico's stadium which Real won 3-0.
-- Reuters

Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll believes he has moved significantly closer towards signing a new contract. Carroll had hoped to join the club's £30,000-a-week earners, but highly publicized errors -- most recently a mistake at Tottenham that should have been ruled a goal but was not, setting off a flurry of calls for adoption of video replay -- caused United to marginally increased their original offer of £20,000. United's chief executive David Gill will approach manager Alex Ferguson to ascertain whether the Ferguson regards Carroll as a first-team player or whether he intends to bring in another goalkeeper.
-- The Guardian (UK)

Mercurial American striker Clint Mathis is back in Major League Soccer with Real Salt Lake after a year in Germany with Hannover 96. He still had not decided to come back to the United States when the mayor of Salt Lake City, Rocky Anderson, lobbied him in a phone call. Mathis, who was entertaining offers from three other German Bundesliga clubs and two MLS clubs, will be the second-highest-paid player in the league this year, behind D.C. United's Freddy Adu.
-- New York Times

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