Mariners, Rays still talking

Clubs need more time to discuss compensation for hiring Lou Piniella.

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times
published October 17, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Devil Rays on Wednesday got their first sense of what it will cost them for the chance to hire Lou Piniella. It was too much for them to say yes right away, but not so much that they won't keep negotiating with the Mariners today.

"Our conversations are ongoing," Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said Wednesday night. "Obviously we had discussions with Seattle concerning Lou Piniella and the compensation they want, and those discussions are going to continue."

The Mariners had similar discussions with the Mets on Wednesday and Seattle spokesman Tim Hevly said only that "we have not reached agreement" with any team. The Mariners have agreed to let Piniella out of the final year of his contract, but they said that before being allowed to talk to Piniella interested teams must negotiate "reasonable" compensation they would provide if he were hired.

LaMar would not discuss any specifics of the Mariners' first request or say whether the Rays had made a counteroffer. The Mets had no official statement. Based on earlier comments from Seattle officials, it is believed the Mariners are seeking two or three players, possibly young major-leaguers or top prospects, as opposed to money.

One report out of New York late Wednesday said the players discussed were not "core" players and that the Mariners might be seeking to include one of their high-priced players (perhaps Jeff Cirillo) in the deal so they can reduce salary. Another said the Mariners were believed to be seeking one or both of the Mets' top prospects, shortstop Jose Reyes and pitcher Aaron Heilman.

A prolonged negotiation could indicate the Mariners are being excessive in their demands.

Alan Nero, Piniella's agent, said the Mariners had assured him they would be "very reasonable" and "expeditious" and he did not sound pleased the negotiations had not been completed.

"We're waiting patiently to hear, and it's disappointing that it's taken so long," Nero said.

Still, Nero plans to travel to Tampa today so he and Piniella can begin to plot their strategy when, or if, teams get permission to begin direct talks. Nero has said that Piniella is interested in both the Rays and Mets and that a key will be his comfort level with team officials.

The Rays have indicated they are serious about signing Piniella and are prepared to make a competitive multiyear offer, likely at an annual salary at or in excess of the $2.5-million he was to make with Seattle.

Neither the Mariners nor the commissioner's office has placed a time limit on the compensation negotiations. It seems unlikely that a team would be able to resolve the compensation issue, talk with Piniella and negotiate a contract with him before the World Series starts Saturday and a ban on hiring announcements goes into effect. Talks, though, could continue during the Series.

Seattle general manager Pat Gillick told Newsday, "We're not in a hurry. We're going to take our time, Other people seem like they have time constraints, but there's no time frame for us."

The Mariners said there is a third interested team that has requested confidentiality and that it has been most aggressive. The Cubs and Brewers, the other teams without managers, say they are not involved. If so, that means the third team is one that has a manager and is trying to avoid what would be a potentially embarrassing situation.

Enough potential candidates, including the Reds, Red Sox, Orioles and Indians, issued denials that, assuming they were being truthful, there is some question if there really is a third team, or at least a third team that is seriously interested. Otherwise, it could be a convenient way for the Mariners to influence the negotiations with the Rays and Mets.

No other teams that meet Piniella's criteria -- an Eastern time zone city with spring training in Florida -- seem likely to be looking to change managers.

The Mariners have said they want to provide Piniella with as many options as possible and could grant permission to more than one team. But they also have said they may seek different levels of compensation from different clubs, creating the possibility they could steer Piniella to a certain team.

For example, Gillick was quoted in the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger as saying, "We favor an American League club. Seriously. We're in the American League and that means something to us. We're not worried about Lou coming back here with another club. That would be exciting."

Those comments imply the Rays could have an advantage. But a case could be made that the Mariners want the Mets to get Piniella so they won't be competing with Seattle for Dusty Baker, who might leave San Francisco and be the top choice in both markets. There also is talk that Oakland is making Art Howe available.

LaMar said the talks with Seattle were "handled very professionally and very constructively."