We hope Omar Minaya, general manager of those not-quite-everything-must-go Montreal Expos, has booked a really, really big suite this week at the winter meetings.
Preferably one the size of Ottawa.
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| Javier Vazquez could find himself wearing a new uniform in 2003. |
Hope so, because he'll need it. There's not much that can safely be predicted about these, or any, winter meetings. But we can predict this: No one will be entertaining more visitors than the Expos' delegation.
Contrary to popular belief, they won't be trading everybody this week. In fact, they might not complete any trades for anybody. But when you've got packages like Bartolo Colon, Jose Vidro, Javier Vazquez and possibly even Vladimir Guerrero on your shelves this holiday season, you figure to attract more shoppers than Wal Mart.
Many other fascinating names -- names from all-English-speaking provinces -- also will be dangling from the chandeliers at Opryland this week. So here's a look at 10 of them (or tag teams) who could get traded before everyone heads home next Monday:
Bartolo Colon-Javier Vazquez-Tony Armas Jr.
Some Expos pitcher will get exported this winter. We're betting on Colon. He's a year away from free agency, has $8.25 million coming his way in 2003 and would be voted everyone's Most Likely Expo to Inspire a Bidding War. Vazquez is an another attractive option, but dealing him would save the Expos less cash. And the only sensible reason for the Expos to trade Armas is if he's someone's reward for taking Fernando Tatis' $6.25-million contract off Minaya's hands. Teams interested: Everybody but the Nippon Ham Fighters.
Erubiel Durazo
The arrival of Lyle Overbay and the impending return of Mark Grace in Arizona make Durazo probably the player most certain of calling a moving van this week. We know he can hit (36 HR, 119 RBI in 593 AB the last three years). We don't know if he can stay off the DL (six trips in three years). But that won't stop somebody. Teams most interested: A's, Red Sox.
Sean Casey
They love Casey in Cincinnati. Heck, they love him everywhere he roams. But he's coming off a six-homer season and arthroscopic shoulder surgery. And with the Reds under orders to lop dollars -- new ballpark or no new ballpark -- Casey and Todd Walker look like the best bets to get lopped by the Big Red Ink Machine. Teams potentially interested: Red Sox, Dodgers, Pirates.
Joe Randa
Another team in shameless salary-pare mode is David Glass' Royals. So, in an apparent attempt by this team to make sure it fields an entire infield that Mike Sweeney can't pick out of a police lineup, Randa looks like a sure thing to go to one of several clubs with third-base vacancies. The Mets and Giants have been at the head of the line.
Jose Cruz Jr.
The Blue Jays have sliced $24 million worth of payroll in the last year, so they're one of the few teams not dumping dollar signs -- even Canadian dollar signs. But they are trying to add starting pitching. So if they can get a good arm for Cruz -- or for somebody on a buffet line including Shannon Stewart, Kelvim Escobar or stud middle infielders Felipe Lopez and Orlando Hudson -- they won't spend the week debating. They'd love Russ Ortiz, but the Giants aren't ready to deal him yet. And the Rangers have interest -- but no attractive pitching to market (unless you'd like to take Chan Ho Park's contract).
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| 2002 SEASON STATISTICS |
| GM |
AB |
R |
HR |
RBI |
AVG |
| 135 |
424 |
61 |
18 |
56 |
.252 |
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J.D. Drew
Five years after agent Scott Boras told us he'd be the next Mickey Mantle, Drew has leveled off somewhere between Mickey Klutts and Mickey Stanley. Flashes of great skills and pretty swings, intermingled with too many lingering bumps and bruises, have finally caused the Cardinals to whisper Drew's name to a club here or there -- just to see what his market might bear. With his knee still healing, he might not bring enough to be worth their while. But remember two names who have been linked with his in recent weeks: Russ Ortiz and Larry Walker.
Hank Blalock
It wasn't long ago Blalock was everybody's AL Rookie-of-the-Year pick (by which we mean: ours). Now the Rangers are convinced Mark Teixeira is the real deal. And since they're also a team with no 10-game winners on the roster, they're spraying Blalock's name all over baseball to see if it can get them a starting pitcher slightly more reliable than, say, Joaquin Benoit. The Mets and Red Sox will gladly talk.
Pedro Astacio
Astacio stands well behind Rey Ordonez, Jeromy Burnitz and Roger Cedeno on the list of players the Mets want to trade. But any move involving those guys would be a my-problem-for-your-problem special. To actually address their offensive needs, they'll probably have to deal either Astacio or Armando Benitez. And Benitez is much harder to replace. But Astacio is a $7-million item who would make $8.5 million if he pitches 200 innings. So even in a market short on experienced starters, this will still be a test of GM Steve Phillips' considerable creativity.
Jose Jimenez
Jimenez's potential $4-million price tag in arbitration isn't what the Rockies had in mind. So they seem determined to move him -- somewhere, anywhere. Boston is a possibility. Or he could be part of a Mets extravaganza involving Benitez and other popular salary-exchange celebrities.
Vladimir Guerrero-Jose Vidro
What would you have to offer to make it worth the Expos' while to deal Guerrero? The entire population of San Pedro de Macoris? Oh, they'll listen (while simultaneously exploring the chances of signing Guerrero long-term before free agency arrives next winter). But of all the Expos who could get traded, he would have to rank behind the other 24 big-leaguers, pretty much the entire farm system, Frank Robinson, Youppi! and the franchise's entire inventory of smoked-meat sandwiches. Vidro, signed for $5.5 million next year, isn't much more likely. But the Expos plan to spend the next week listening to any and all offers. And one of these days, they'll have no choice but to trade at least one of their four biggest stars (Guerrero, Vidro, Colon or Vazquez). So stay tuned. And thank you for visiting the Expos' Welcome Center. Please come again.
10 big names teams might talk about
Rumors being rumors, you'll undoubtedly hear some fascinating names come spiraling out of the winter-meetings rumorfest. Here are 10 who are much more likely to wind up in a big rumor than a big deal:
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| 2002 SEASON STATISTICS |
| GM |
AB |
R |
HR |
RBI |
AVG |
| 153 |
497 |
95 |
38 |
103 |
.298 |
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Brian Giles, Miguel Tejada, Junior Griffey, Larry Walker, Chan Ho Park, Carlos Delgado, Andy Pettitte, Nomar Garciaparra, Richie Sexson, Jason Kendall.
10 (plus four) hitters who are also available
Mike Cameron, Daryle Ward, David Ortiz, Shea Hillenbrand, Carlos Lee, Jason Varitek, Kevin Millar, David Dellucci, Robert Fick, Jeremy Giambi, Travis Lee, Marlon Anderson, Marcus Giles and Dmitri Young.
10 pitchers who are also available
Andy Ashby, Rick Reed, Brett Tomko, Matt Anderson, Scott Strickland, Mark Redman, Steve Sparks, Sidney Ponson, Livan Hernandez and Carl Pavano.
10 biggest salary dumpees
Raul Mondesi, Denny Neagle, Greg Vaughn, Jeromy Burnitz, Carl Everett, Rey Ordonez, Vinny Castilla, Ben Grieve, Kevin Young and Roger Cedeno.
Jayson Stark is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
