By Jeff Pearlman

Posted: Wed October 21, 1998

Start the Bidding | The Domino Theory | Little Hope for Davey Lopes 
Guns for Hire

Issue date: October 26, 1998

Start the Bidding 

Kevin Brown could be the key to a robust free-agent signing period

Padres general manager Kevin Towers has no beef with his Rockies counterpart, Bob Gebhard. But that doesn't guarantee that Towers won't visit good ol' Bob's office in Denver in the off-season, kick him in the shins and steal some pencils. Nothing personal, of course. Strictly business.

After his stellar season in '98, Brown could be wooed away by a Rocky Mountain-high salary.    (Walter Iooss Jr.)

For the past six weeks the Rockies have had a scout attending all the games started by San Diego ace Kevin Brown. Brown, who can become a free agent after the World Series, is holding a winning lottery ticket as one of 1999's top catches. Colorado has made no secret of its interest. Neither have Towers and the Padres, who will make Brown (18-7, 2.38 ERA) the top priority among their potential free agents, a group that also includes third baseman Ken Caminiti, centerfielder Steve Finley, first baseman Wally Joyner and catcher Carlos Hernandez. "Without Brownie, we're not in the World Series," Towers said last week. "He's made as big an impact as you possibly can. We want him here for a long time."

One problem. While John Moores and Larry Lucchino, San Diego's owners since '94, have increased the payroll to keep the Padres competitive, they might be competing against a man—Colorado owner Jerry McMorris—who is fast becoming the George Steinbrenner of the West. The Rockies recently lured Jim Leyland away from the Marlins with a three-year deal at $2 million annually, the highest salary ever for a manager, and are likely to pursue free-agent catcher Mike Piazza, who should command more than $10 million per year. Colorado may offer Brown a deal similar to the $12.5 million a year that Boston gave to Pedro Martinez last November.

Brown, who won't say much on the matter, does offer that if the money's right, he'd like to stay with San Diego. "I hope it works out here," he says. "I enjoy the team, the community. It's been a nice fit."

Last year at this time the pitcher Towers coveted was free-agent Houston ace Darryl Kile, but the Rockies wound up signing him to a three-year, $24 million deal. Kile and his killer curveball then proved ineffective in Denver (17 losses, 5.20 ERA). Don't expect the same from Brown, however. His 97-mph fastball won't lose speed in the thin air, and his killer sinker will still sink.

"I'm a realist," says Towers. "Dollar for dollar, we're going to have a tough time matching the [high-revenue] clubs. But a lot of our guys have taken less to stay in San Diego. I'd like to think that Brownie has enjoyed playing here, and maybe he'll want to stay."

The Domino Theory 

Should Brown decide that he'd enjoy having a fat bank balance more than he likes the gentle breezes of San Diego, he could set off a chain reaction that will greatly affect the other free-agent signings. Here are some of the dominoes that may fall if Brown relocates.

—Mike Piazza probably won't end up in Colorado if Brown signs with the Rockies. Huge attendance or not, the Rockies already have $43.6 million tied up next year in 11 players—most prominently Kile, rightfielder Larry Walker and leftfielder Dante Bichette—and they are unlikely to spend more than $20 million on two additional players.

—A wild card in all this could be the Indians, whose need for an ace was evident yet again this postseason. Cleveland, which is interested in Orioles free-agent second baseman Roberto Alomar, is expected to make a strong bid to acquire Atlanta's 16-game winner, Denny Neagle, who would solidify the Indians' rotation. The Braves would surely ask for reliever Paul Shuey in return, but the Indians are loath to put the hard-throwing righty on the market.

—No matter where Brown signs, his package will be closely watched by Astros lefthander Randy Johnson, who wants one more rich, multiyear contract and has hinted that he won't return to the National League. Although Johnson went 10-1 with a 1.28 ERA for the Astros the last two months of the regular season, there are questions about the 35-year-old's durability. When Johnson pitched against San Diego in the National League Division Series, Padres pitching coach Dave Stewart was shocked that his fastball was clocked at 91 mph—tops. "The difference from what we're used to seeing was huge," says Stewart. "Throwing 90 is still good, but it's not unusual. Heck, I've seen him throw 96, 97, 98. I guess he was tired—it's been a long year for him. But he's also getting up there in age. I don't know what he has left."

Little Hope for Davey Lopes 

Davey Lopes, the Padres first base coach, has interviewed for four manager's jobs in the last three years without ever getting called back for a second interview. Lopes, who is African-American, does not blame this on his race so much as on his reputation. During his 16-year playing career, Lopes was tagged as a cantankerous, ornery guy. "I've pretty much accepted it," says Lopes. "I don't believe I'll ever get a chance to manage." San Diego players and coaches say Lopes has as much baseball knowledge as anyone in the game. "He'd be a great manager," says Kevin Towers, the Padres' G.M. "The problem is, I think a lot of general managers want a guy they feel comfortable with immediately. Maybe Davey doesn't give that warm first impression, but he knows the game." ... Keep an eye on the internecine battles in Toronto, where Blue Jays skipper Tim Johnson had his problems in '98, his first year as a big league skipper. By the end of the season Johnson and pitching coach Mel Queen were openly feuding, and several veterans were tiring of Johnson's rah-rah attitude. Nevertheless, he got Toronto into the wild-card hunt after the club dumped Juan Guzman, Tony Phillips, Ed Sprague and Mike Stanley before the trading deadline, and Randy Myers a week later. Also credit Johnson for developing young outfielders Shawn Green and Shannon Stewart. Johnson and Queen were scheduled to meet this week with general manager Gord Ash to clear the air.... During the National League Championship Series against San Diego, Braves closer Kerry Ligtenberg shocked teammates by shaving his trademark lamb-chop sideburns. "I was tired of looking like a dirtbag," he said. "Besides, I wanted to change our luck." Didn't work.

Guns for Hire 

After the World Series concludes, more than 150 players will be eligible for free agency—give or take a couple of dozen whose teams can exercise options to keep them. Here are the 10 players (in alphabetical order) who should command the most attention, if they decide to test the free-agent waters.

PLAYER, TEAM POSITION 1998 STATS 1998 SALARY Roberto Alomar, Orioles 2B .282, 14 homers $6.3 mil. Kevin Brown, Padres P 8-7, 2.38 ERA $4.8 mil. Ken Caminiti, Padres 3B .252, 29 homers $3.5 mil. Randy Johnson, Astros P 19-11, 3.28 ERA $6 mil. Brian Jordan, Cardinals OF .316, 25 homers $3.7 mil. Al Leiter, Mets P 17-6, 2.47 ERA $3 mil. Rafael Palmeiro, Orioles 1B .296, 43 homers $6.5 mil. Mike Piazza, Mets C .328, 32 homers $8 mil. Mo Vaughn, Red Sox 1B .337, 40 homers $6.6 mil. Bernie Williams, Yankees OF .339, 26 homers $8.3 mil.

Issue date: October 26, 1998

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