Sports: Rays pursue handful of low-level trades

BOSTON -- While the Rays are dreaming about trading Greg Vaughn and the $18-million he's owed in the next two years, they are working on smaller deals involving the likes of Bryan Rekar, Doug Creek, Randy Winn and possibly Mickey Callaway.

The Rays talked Tuesday with Boston about controversial outfielder Carl Everett, but the discussions best can be described as preliminary. The Rays will be interested only if the Red Sox took Vaughn and paid a hefty portion of Everett's salary. The Sox reportedly would want another player, such as Jason Tyner, in the deal.

The Sox also are said to be talking with Milwaukee about an Everett-Jeromy Burnitz deal under similar circumstances.

The Rays were believed to be talking with several teams, including Detroit, about Rekar, whom they would like to trade before having to decide Dec. 20 whether to tender him a contract.

Creek has drawn interest from the Dodgers among other teams. Several clubs are believed to be interested in Winn.

The Rays would most like to trade Vaughn because of the financial savings. Agent Eric Goldschmidt said no teams have asked about Vaughn, who has a partial no-trade clause, and he doesn't foresee an offseason deal.

"My gut feeling is that he comes out and if he has a good first half I think he could be a trade deadline situation," Goldschmidt said.

Goldschmidt said several teams interested in ex-Rays pitcher Albie Lopez.

CONTRACTION UPDATE: Representatives of Major League Baseball and the players union on Tuesday continued negotiating toward a settlement that would delay contraction until 2003. Talks will resume today.

ARCHED INTEREST: Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said he'd like to bring fellow Tampa native Tino Martinez to St. Louis, and not just because of what Martinez could do for the team at first base and at the plate.

"He's from Tampa, I knew his dad, his family knows our family," La Russa said. "I know not just what kind of player he is, I know the character of the player. He'd be a great fit for us."

The Cards, seeking a replacement for Mark McGwire, likely would need to make a trade to free enough money to sign Martinez. Agent Jim Krivacs is talking with several other teams, believed to include Oakland and Baltimore.

OTHER DEALS: While still negotiating with free agent second baseman Bret Boone, the Mariners acquired an offensive catcher for the future, or perhaps the present, in Ben Davis, along with utility infielder Alex Arias and right-hander Wascar Serrano. The Padres filled a hole at shortstop by getting Ramon Vazquez, along with backup catcher Tom Lampkin and right-hander Brett Tomko, a Florida Southern product.

Unable to deal Dmitri Young to Atlanta, the Reds instead sent him to Detroit in return for outfielder Juan Encarnacion. ... The Rangers continued restocking their pitching staff by signing reliever Jay Powell to a three-year $9-million deal. ... The Marlins made their first deal, dumping arbitration-eligible left-hander Jesus Sanchez to Cubs for minor-leaguer Nate Teut. ... The White Sox re-signed closer Keith Foulke to a two-year, $10-million deal.

TORRE SIGNS: Joe Torre signed a contract extension to continue managing the Yankees through the 2004 season.

The agreement is for three years at about $16-million, the New York Times reported last week. His agent Maury Gostfrand, and team spokesman Rick Cerrone did not comment on terms.

MORE RAYS: The Rays will open spring training March 1 against the University of Tampa at Florida Power Park. ... Bench coach Billy Hatcher today will speak to youths at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Juvenile Boot Camp Transition Program.

RUMORS & MISCELLANY: Jason Giambi was in Tampa on Tuesday to take a Yankees physical and his signing could be announced today or Thursday. ... Seattle's Edgar Martinez won the outstanding DH award for the fifth time. He received 72 of 76 first-place votes in balloting by reporters, broadcasters and team public-relations directors. ... The Cubs and Royals are pursuing free-agent outfielder Chuck Knoblauch. ... The White Sox are among the teams showing interest in Anaheim's Darin Erstad. The Yankees may offer Orlando Hernandez and two top minor-leaguers. ... The Expos' two-man contingent arrived at the meetings, having driven from Montreal. ... The Mets are talking with Detroit about outfielder Bobby Higginson, offering left-hander Glendon Rusch. ... The Red Sox are hot after right-hander John Burkett. Boston also announced former outfielder Dwight Evans as hitting coach.

Watkins finds support for team in Minnesota

Alabama businessman Don Watkins is getting more interested in buying the Twins than the Rays. Watkins has received about 4,000 e-mails from Twins fans encouraging him to buy the team, and told the St. Paul Pioneer-Press the support has impressed him.

"These are not one- or two-sentence e-mails, but the type where fans pour their hearts out," said Watkins, who would be baseball's first black owner. "Apparently, there's an avalanche of fans there waiting to be loved, and I intend to love them."

The support has him shifting his priorities from the Rays.

"The Twins have really closed the gap on the Devil Rays," he said. "The fan base has a highly charged, dedicated support group, and it would be difficult to find that level of support in Tampa. A loyal fan base is a key ingredient to a successful franchise."

While Watkins has spoken publicly about buying the Rays, he has not made an offer.

UMPIRES: A defamation suit filed by baseball's former umpires union against the current union was dismissed, according to labor counsel for both groups.

-- MARC TOPKIN, TIMES WIRES

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