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Baseball briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 30, 2000

Mussina, Yankees near deal

NEW YORK -- Mike Mussina and the Yankees were close Wednesday to completing a six-year contract that would be worth about $87-million.

Mussina's agent, Arn Tellem, traveled to New York from Los Angeles and intended to finish negotiations today, the Associated Press reported.

Mussina, the most sought-after pitcher on the free-agent market, would get between $86.5-million and $87.5-million. The sides had not agreed on the breakdown of the annual salaries, which would determine the contract's total.

The sides had not put the deal in writing and had not agreed on the language of a no-trade clause, although it appeared Mussina probably would get full no-trade rights.

An announcement could come today or Friday.

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and director of baseball operations Mark Newman monitored the talks by conference call from the Yankees' minor-league facility in Tampa.

Mussina did not return a telephone message left with his wife at his home in Montoursville, Pa. Tellem declined to comment, as did the Yankees, who cited a gag order imposed by Steinbrenner.

HAMPTON BIDDING: Crystal River's Mike Hampton, one of the top free-agent pitchers, hopes to pare his list of suitors and begin negotiating a contract by the end of the week. Mark Rodgers, Hampton's agent, met with Colorado and Texas this week but wouldn't say who the finalists will be. Atlanta, St. Louis, the Cubs and the Mets are the likely favorites.

BLUE JAYS: Buck Martinez presided over minicamp in Dunedin in his first day on the job after being hired as manager. "The big thing about it is the anticipation of getting out here, getting organized and involved," he said. "It has been a task because there are a lot of things I've never had to deal with before, but being down on the field is pretty special."

CARDINALS: President Mark Lamping said he and the team remain committed to building a downtown ballpark next to 34-year-old Busch Stadium. The remarks came hours before Lamping was scheduled to travel to Springfield, Ill., to hear a pitch from Illinois lawmakers, who would like to place a ballpark in East St. Louis or another Metro East community.

PHILLIES: Rheal Cormier agreed to an $8.75-million, three-year contract, ending Philadelphia's search for a left-handed reliever. On Nov. 17, the team signed right-hander Jose Mesa to a $6.8-million, two-year deal.

REDS: The best seats will cost $28 next season, a $7 increase. Leftfield seats are being demolished at Cinergy Field to make way for a new ballpark.

RED SOX: Boston quietly has contacted Jeff Moorad, agent for outfielder Manny Ramirez, and said it would like to talk if Mussina signs elsewhere. The sides are expected to chat in Dallas at the winter meetings, which open Dec. 8. ... Catcher Dave Nilsson, who didn't play in the majors last season so he could join the Australian Olympic team, failed a physical, a Boston radio station reported. Nilsson was expected to sign a $6-million, two-year contract.

ROCKIES: Colorado courted free-agent shortstop Alex Rodriguez in the hope of luring perhaps the game's best player to baseball's most hitter-friendly park. General manager Dan O'Dowd and the ownership team met with Rodriguez and agent Scott Boras for several hours at Coors Field, which has been home to a National League batting champion or home run leader in each of its six seasons.

TIGERS: Juan Gonzalez has completed his medical examination, but the team won't reveal the results. Gonzalez, who played for Detroit last season and then became a free agent, had canceled two appointments, saying he needed to be with his young daughter, who has a serious spleen disorder.

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