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Baseball notebook

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 13, 2000

Red Sox reel in Ramirez

BOSTON -- Pedro Martinez isn't just the best pitcher in baseball. He's a pretty good recruiter.

The Red Sox ace helped his team add some punch by helping convince outfielder Manny Ramirez to come to Boston. The former Indians slugger is expected to be introduced to his new fans today after signing an eight-year, $160-million deal.

"I'm good friends with Pedro," Ramirez told a Boston TV station on arriving at Logan International Airport on Tuesday. "Here in Boston we have a good chance to get the ring."

Ramirez spent three hours at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester taking a physical. He was accompanied by Dr. Arthur Pappas, Red Sox doctor Bill Morgan and team trainer Jim Rowe.

Ramirez signed a few autographs when he arrived, but he did not comment further. The Red Sox have declined to comment on the deal.

Ramirez turned down a similar offer from Cleveland, where he has played his entire career. Indians officials said the deal would have paid Ramirez $160-million, though more of the money was deferred, so it was worth substantially less.

"He just felt the challenge of playing elsewhere, plus a more attractive economic package, were factors he couldn't turn away from," Ramirez's agent, Jeff Moorad, said.

WINTER MEETINGS END: The meetings in Dallas smashed standards for big bucks and declarations of doom. In four days, teams committed $738.95-million to 24 free agents, including $412-million to Alex Rodriguez and Ramirez. That raised the total for this year's free-agent class to $1.043-billion for 49 players with major-league contracts. "This has to end sometime," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "The well's got to run dry. It seems it does for a little bit, but then it starts back up."

RAYS ADD SCOUTS: Dave Roberts, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1972 draft, is one of four new members of the Devil Rays' scouting staff. Roberts, who had been a scouting supervisor with Detroit and also worked as an agent, will be the West Coast national cross-checker. Hired as area scouts were James Bonnici (Great Lakes), Joe Robinson Jr. (upper midwest) and Mike Zimmerman (northeast). R.J. Harrison was promoted from national cross-checker to national scouting coordinator and Mac Seibert was elevated from area scout to Midwest national cross-checker. The Rays also promoted four to area scout status: Milt Hill (Oklahoma/Texas), Rickey Drexler (Midwest), Hank King (northern California), and Benny Latino (southeast Texas).

CUBS: Charges were dropped against two fans who were pulled from a brawl with several Dodgers players during a Wrigley Field game in May. Construction workers Ronald Camacho, 33, and James Maness, 31, had been charged with disorderly conduct.

YANKEES: Next year at this time, Derek Jeter could be the free-agent shortstop signing the big contract, unless New York gives him a long-term deal this winter. "We have a good relationship. I'm sure we'll be talking," Jeter's agent, Casey Close, said in the wake of Rodriguez's record $252-million, 10-year contract. Added team president Randy Levine: "Jeter is a priority for us. It's what we're concentrating on. But we're not going to be distracted by this signing."

- Staff writer Marc Topkin contributed to this report.

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