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Roundup Cone wants to win another title for Red Sox
Updated: Saturday January 13, 2001 12:57 AM
BOSTON (AP) -- David Cone has won the World Series once with the Toronto Blue Jays and four times with the New York Yankees. If he picks up a sixth title in 2001, though, it would be anything but old hat. "It certainly is something that I have thought about," the free agent pitcher said Friday, a day after agreeing to a $1 million, one-year contract with the star-crossed Boston Red Sox. "There is such a hunger for a World Series championship in Boston, and I'm aware of how long it's been. That certainly would be exciting." The Red Sox haven't won the World Series since 1918, watching their New York nemeses win 26 since then. Red Sox manager Jimy Williams said one thing that attracted the team to Cone was his history of success. "You have an individual who has pitched big games and won big games," Williams said when the deal was announced Thursday night at the Boston baseball writers' dinner, where the news was greeted with a rousing cheer. "He really knows how to compete." Cone won the AL Cy Young Award with the Royals in 1994 and pitched a perfect game for the Yankees in '99. In a 15-year career, he has a 184-116 record and a 3.40 ERA. Before last year, he had six straight winning seasons and had not had an ERA above 3.60 since 1987. But he struggled in 2000, going 4-14 with a 6.91 ERA in 155 innings and losing eight straight decisions during a 15-start winless streak. Just when he seemed to be regaining some of his form, he dislocated his left shoulder on Sept. 5 at Kansas City. He made only two relief appearances in the 2000 Series, delivering a key out when he induced Mike Piazza hit a fly ball in the fifth inning of Game 4. "If there was any way to go out as a Yankee, that was all I could ask for," Cone said. "I have nothing to say bad about the Yankees. I won four World Series with them. That's certainly nothing anybody can take away." Cone made $12 million last year, but the Yankees offered to take him back as a fifth starter at a salary of $500,000. "I really felt like the Yankees thought I was replaceable," he said. "I needed to go somewhere else where I could contribute more." The Boston deal guarantees Cone only $163,934 in termination pay if he is released at least 15 days before opening day. If he makes the opening day roster, his base salary would be increased to $2 million. He could earn up $2 million in performance bonuses, collecting the entire amount if he makes 30 starts or pitches 200 innings. He would earn an extra $1 million if he is voted comeback player of the year. "I have to come into spring training to prove myself," Cone said. "But that doesn't scare me at this point." Cone will compete for a fifth spot in the rotation with Tomo Okha, Paxton Crawford, Tim Wakefield, Pete Schourek, Sun-Woo Kim and Bret Saberhagen, another Cy Young winner signed by Boston on what seemed like the tail end of his career. Saberhagen won 25 games in two years for the Red Sox before winding up on the disabled list for much of last season. Pedro Martinez, Frank Castillo, Rolando Arrojo and Hideo Nomo are expected to make the Red Sox rotation. "They assured me that I'd be given the opportunity to make the rotation and hopefully pitch behind Pedro next year," Cone said. "Pedro Martinez is arguably the best pitcher in the game." Mariners shortstop Guillen reports leg painSEATTLE (AP) -- The Seattle Mariners have advised shortstop Carlos Guillen to skip the rest of winter baseball in Venezuela after he complained of leg pain. Guillen has a history of leg injuries, so the Mariners had him fly to Seattle to be checked by team physician Dr. Larry Pedegana. "He was worried, so we brought him in," trainer Rick Griffin said. "It wasn't anything, really. Just a little soreness. He probably just panicked a little. There's nothing functionally wrong." Just to be safe, the team suggested he halt winter ball to be ready for spring training. With the departure of Alex Rodriguez to the Texas Rangers, Guillen is the team's only natural shortstop with much major league experience. "We think he'll be fine for spring training," general manager Pat Gillick said. Rangers sign Brantley to minor league dealARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Right-hander Jeff Brantley and the Texas Rangers agreed Friday to a minor league contract with Class AAA Oklahoma. Brantley, 37, would get a $650,000, one-year contract if he's added to the major league roster and would have the chance to earn up to $2 million in performance bonuses. He was 2-7 with a 5.86 ERA and 23 saves with the Philadelphia Phillies last year. Brantley has a 43-45 career record with a 3.35 ERA and 172 saves in 597 appearances in 13 seasons with San Francisco, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Philadelphia. Kelly agrees to deal with RockiesDENVER (AP) -- Outfielder Roberto Kelly agreed Friday to a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies, hoping he can add right-handed-hitting bench strength to their outfield. Kelly, 36, would get a $725,000, one-year contract if he makes the team and the chance to earn $250,000 more in performance bonuses. He would get the full amount if he has 500 plate appearances. By signing him to a minor league deal, the Rockies won't have to give Kelly a large amount of termination pay if he hasn't recovered from reconstructive elbow surgery. Kelly joins Ron Gant, signed a month ago, as a right-handed-hitting outfielder. Projected starters Todd Hollandsworth, Juan Pierre and Larry Walker are left-handed hitters. Kelly had only 25 at-bats last season with the New York Yankees before being sidelined with an injury to his right elbow. In four previous seasons, he batted .308, including .353 against left-handed pitchers. He had 20 home runs and 85 RBIs in 493 at-bats against left-handers from 1996-99. Cardinals promote Gebhard to VPST. LOUIS (AP) -- Bob Gebhard was promoted Friday by the St. Louis Cardinals to vice president, special assistant to general manager Walt Jocketty. Gebhard joined the Cardinals after resigning under fire in August 1999 as general manager of the Colorado Rockies. He had been serving as special assistant to Jocketty. The Cardinals said Gebhard would continue to work closely with Jocketty on day-to-day operation of the team, as well as player evaluations and contract negotiations. Before becoming general manager of the Cardinals in 1995, Jocketty was Gebhard's assistant in Colorado. In other front office moves, the Cardinals named former scouting director Marty Maier as director of amateur scouting; Jeff Scott as director of international scouting and operations; Marteese Robinson, formerly of Toronto Blue Jays scouting staff, as director of professional scouting; and promoted John 'Mo' Mozeliak as director of baseball operations. Padres release SlocumbSAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- The San Diego Padres have released reliever Heathlcliff Slocumb, a 10-year veteran who has 98 career saves. After previously being designated for assignment, the Padres gave Slocumb his unconditional release on Friday. The 34-year-old was 0-1 with a 3.79 ERA in 22 games for the Padres after being acquired from St. Louis in a July 31 trade. Slocumb is 28-37 with a 4.08 ERA in 548 appearances and also has pitched for the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Boston, Seattle and Baltimore. Braves sign two pitchers to minor league contractsATLANTA (AP) -- The Atlanta Braves signed right-handers Marc Valdes and Joe Slusarski to minor league contracts Friday and invited them to spring training as non-roster players. Valdes, 29, was 5-5 with a 5.08 ERA and two saves in 53 games for Houston last year. He was 5-2 with a 4.15 ERA in nine games for Class AAA Durham. Traded from Tampa Bay to the Astros on May 27, Valdes is 11-15 with a 4.88 ERA in 135 major league appearances. Slusarski, 34, was 2-7 with a 4.21 ERA and three saves in 54 games for Houston. He was 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 13 games for Class AAA New Orleans. Slusarski is 13-20 in 106 major league games with a 4.97 ERA.
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