Right deal never emerges

Offers for Randy Winn don't include the talent Chuck LaMar seeks as Rays stay quiet at trade deadline.

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times
published August 1, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays had several offers to trade Randy Winn by Wednesday's 4 p.m. deadline for nonwaiver deals.

They just didn't have the right one.

Having talked seriously about Winn with at least five teams -- the Giants, Mets, Mariners, Astros and Dodgers -- the Rays decided they couldn't get the right pair of young players they sought and decided to keep their All-Star centerfielder.

"We want to make this club better and we want to try to do everything we can to win more games for the rest of this year and the future, but truly we didn't get the opportunity to better ourselves," general manager Chuck LaMar said. "I'm glad we still have the players we have."

The Rays also talked with teams about first baseman Steve Cox and pitchers Paul Wilson and Esteban Yan, but they didn't come close to a deal. LaMar said he expected more interest.

"For what they're getting paid and what they bring, and what they could have brought, to a contending club, I am a little surprised, but not disappointed," LaMar said.

Several teams called offering the Rays cash (including at least two in excess of $1-million) or seeking a bargain in case the Rays had to dump salary. LaMar said that was not the case and their actions should eliminate any questions about their financial stability.

"This organization is not in position to have to make a deal because of money or moving salary for next year or anything like that, but a lot of clubs did call either with cash in the deal as the primary focus or asking us if we were just interested in moving salary, and neither one fit what we were trying to do," LaMar said. "So it truly came down to what we said it was going to: either a baseball trade or no trade."

Winn said the speculation had been only a slight distraction, but he was glad when 4 o'clock came. "I wasn't itching to get out of here," he said. "I think it would be exciting to go into a pennant race this time of year, and that's something I would have looked forward to. But like I said all along, I like it here, I like the guys and I think we have a lot of young talent."