Things didn't work out the way they were supposed to for Tino Martinez and the Cardinals.
Signed in December 2001, Martinez was expected to help the Cardinals get over the hump and into the World Series. Never happened.
In his first season, Martinez hit .262 with 21 homers and 75 RBIs. Last season, he hit .273 with 15 homers and 69 RBIs. And the Cardinals did not reach the World Series.
They had more problems than the numbers Martinez posted.
Still, it was Martinez who went to Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and suggested that maybe it was time to move on because the marriage was not working. Martinez listed seven teams he would like to be traded to, and the Rays landed the Tampa native.
"I thought he competed, but he wasn't as productive as he has been," La Russa told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I think the fans were disappointed. I think whenever the fans were disappointed, he was beating himself (up) worse than anybody. In my opinion, he was more productive than he thought. But it wasn't a happy time for him. It was tough."
Reports in St. Louis suggested Martinez didn't see eye to eye with La Russa and was a negative force in the clubhouse, but since the trade, members from all levels of the club have come to Martinez's defense. Pitcher Matt Morris even wrote an e-mail to the Post-Dispatch complaining about the newspaper's portrayal of Martinez.
La Russa said Martinez and his veteran leadership helped the Cardinals get through the death of pitcher Darryl Kile.
And now La Russa appears disappointed that Martinez could not have left St. Louis under better circumstances.
"It bothers me to see a stain on this guy," La Russa said.
All the bad feelings, though, went away when the Rays brought Martinez home.
"He was eating his heart out," La Russa said. "It was important for him to go home."
STAYING PUT: Word out of Cincinnati is that interim manager Dave Miley will be named the Reds manager early this week. That would be bad news for Rays bench coach John McLaren, a finalist for the job.
For Rays manager Lou Piniella, it would be bittersweet news. Piniella wants to see McLaren get a shot at being manager, but now he gets to hold on to his right-hand man for the 13th season.
FUTURE SKIPPER: The Indians hired former manager Mike Hargrove, recently fired by Baltimore, to be an adviser, but Hargrove says he wants to manage again.
"But I don't want to manage the Indians," he said. "I'm not trying to get anyone's job. I've talked to (Indians manager) Eric (Wedge) about this, and he's cool with everything."
The Indians told Hargrove that they won't stand in his way if he gets a chance to manage.
RAYS CLOSER: The Rays remain in hot pursuit of closer Tom Gordon, but reports in Chicago say Gordon wants $5-million a season. If the Gordon thing falls through, the Rays might consider Arizona closer Matt Mantei.
The Diamondbacks are looking to move Mantei because they think Jose Valverde, who had 10 saves in 2003, is ready to take over. Only problem for the Rays? Mantei picked up an option that will pay him $7-million. That might be pricey, but then, Mantei saved 29 games last season.
SHORT HOPS: With Martinez going to the Rays, La Russa has talked to Albert Pujols about moving from leftfield to first base. ... After acquiring Derrek Lee from Florida, the Cubs now are listening to offers for first baseman Randall Simon. ... Seung-Yeop Lee, the 27-year-old South Korean slugger who hit an Asian-record 56 homers last season, visited Seattle last week, leading to speculation that he was going to the Mariners. But then he checked out Los Angeles and is planning to visit the Mets.
- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.
