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Baseball Notebook

Trade talk heating up as July 31 deadline nears

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Posted: Sunday July 25, 1999 05:03 PM

Dealin': It wasn't too big of a gamble for the Mets, who acquired A's left-hander Kenny Rogers for two minor leaguers. AP

NEW YORK (AP) -- With the July 31 trading deadline around the corner, the question around baseball is who's buying, who's selling and who's not sure yet.

The one certainty is that there are not any No. 1 starters available, no matter how much teams like the Indians and Mets would like to acquire one.

"There's not a Randy Johnson out there this year," said Mets GM Steve Phillips, who settled for Oakland's Kenny Rogers on Friday in exchange for two minor leaguers.

Because there is no Johnson available, or most likely not even a Curt Schilling or a David Wells, other teams will also look for secondary options and internal solutions.

The Indians think they might have found their ace. Bartolo Colon is 3-0 with a 2.67 ERA in his last four starts and is impressing opponents with his high-90s fastball.

"I've heard they're looking for a No. 1 starter, but I don't know why when they have him on the mound," Craig Biggio said after Colon beat Houston 7-1.

Cleveland GM John Hart would still like to add another pitcher. But with injuries to Wil Cordero, Travis Fryman and Sandy Alomar, and the trades of Brian Giles and Sean Casey the last two seasons, the cupboard might be bare.

"I can't fill every hole we have," Hart admitted.

Cleveland is targeting Anaheim's Chuck Finley, Kansas City's Jose Rosado, Florida's Alex Fernandez and Baltimore reliever Arthur Rhodes. All but Fernandez are left-handed, which could be important in a potential playoff matchup with the Yankees.

Phillips was in a similar predicament, having gutted his farm system in recent years to bring in Mike Piazza, Al Leiter and Dennis Cook. Fortunately for New York, he was able to land Rogers without giving up much.

With closer John Franco injured and the Mets starters rarely going more than six innings, the Mets have been taxed all year. The 34-year-old Rogers, a lefty, gives them much-needed help.

Across town, the Yankees are shopping for a left fielder, a left-handed reliever and maybe even another starter. But with Shane Spencer and Darryl Strawberry set to return in the next few weeks and Andy Pettitte having won two straight starts, GM Brian Cashman might not pull the trigger.

Other teams shopping to fill holes include the Braves, who would like to bring Fred McGriff back from Tampa Bay to fill the void left by Andres Galarraga.

Complicating any deals is the uncertainty of who is actually in the playoff race. Last week, the Angels seemed more likely to add players with Tim Salmon and Gary DiSarcina coming off the DL and the team poised for a run.

Now Anaheim is on a seven-game skid heading into the weekend and Finley might be back on the block. That's why most GMs will wait until July 31 to make a move.

"Everybody plays the clock," Toronto GM Gord Ash said. "It's human nature to wait until the deadline."

After July 31, though, players must clear waivers before they can be traded. Years ago, that used to be merely a formality as teams usually did not block other clubs from making trades.

That hands-off policy, however, has changed in recent years.

Hall of a debate

As Nolan Ryan is inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday, it is time to look at the chances of two active pitchers who strengthened their cases this week.

Roger Clemens and Greg Maddux, their struggles this year notwithstanding, are locks to go to Cooperstown. David Cone and Orel Hershiser are polishing their resumes.

"I think it is absolutely flattering to be in the debate," said Cone, whose perfect game against Montreal last Sunday left him 22 wins shy of 200.

In this era of five-man rotations and six-inning starters, 300 wins is almost out of the question. So, 200 will put pitchers into consideration. Hershiser hit that milestone Thursday.

"People have told me, 'You get to 200, you've got a chance,'" Hershiser said. "But the Hall of Fame is a very, very special place."

(Cake) batter up

Five years ago, Cincinnati's Sean Casey was playing in the Cape Cod League and packing frozen bagels at a bakery.

The summer league brings in college players who aren't paid but work jobs and get room and board.

"I got to work in the bakery," Casey recalled. "I worked with eight ladies. I ended up being their gofer. I'd go out and get all the heavy stuff, get the bagels and things and unload them from the truck.

"I'd be dead tired. I'd go into the freezer and stack 'em, and I had this big winter coat on and gloves. One day I said, 'Can I like start decorating cakes or something? This is ridiculous.'"

During last offseason, Casey sometimes helped out a friend who owns a deli in Richmond, Va.

"A couple of times he needed help and said, 'Would you mind running the cash register?' No problem," Casey said. "It was pretty fun. I worked the cash register like six hours one day. He didn't pay me, but he gave me free lunches and stuff."

Tribute

The Milwaukee Brewers will wear a commemorative patch in memory of three construction workers killed in an accident last week at the team's new stadium.

The Brewers will also donate $3 for every ticket sold for the game against Montreal on July 30 to a fund organized to aid the families of the victims.

The team also will give two game tickets to every construction worker at Miller Park, the 43,000-seat stadium that is scheduled to open for the 2000 season.

 

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