The results of Tom Gordon’s MRI exam have encouraged the Cubs. But they still don’t know whether the 33-year-old right-hander will pitch in the big leagues by the end of the month.
The test revealed Gordon’s strained muscle, originally thought to be his right triceps, is in the back of his right shoulder. Cubs officials believe that helps explain why Gordon was experiencing stiffness in his upper arm the day after he pitched.
“It’s the same injury,” manager Don Baylor said. “We’re all relieved.”
Gordon plans to long toss Friday, and the Cubs hope he’ll return to the mound Monday in an extended spring training game in Arizona. Beyond that they can’t say when he’ll be ready to join the team.
“We’ll let nature take its course and let it heal,” Cubs President/General Manager Andy MacPhail said. “We have six months ahead of us so there’s no accelerated timetable. We don’t want him to alter his delivery [because of the injury].”
Gordon told the Cubs he strained the muscle during an unsupervised weightlifting session March 18, one day after his last spring training outing. The rest of the team, including strength and conditioning coordinator Tim Buss, was in Peoria, Ariz., that day for a game against Seattle.
Gordon has every incentive to return to the mound as quickly as possible.
The two-year deal he signed in December guarantees him $4 million. But he can earn an additional $2.5 million this season in games-finished bonuses if he becomes the team’s closer.
The contract calls for bonuses based on five-game increments. He would earn $50,000 for finishing five games, another $50,000 for finishing 10 games and another $100,000 for finishing 15 games. That figure jumps to $200,000 for 25 games finished, $300,000 for 45 games finished and $400,000 for 55 games finished.
The contract also calls for the Cubs to pay Gordon for being on the active roster. He would earn a $150,000 bonus if he’s ready to pitch May 1 and another $150,000 for being on the 25-man roster June 1. Those figures jump to $200,000 for July 1 and $250,000 for Aug. 1 and Aug. 30.
Gordon can earn each of those bonuses just once during the two-year contract, so a prolonged absence this season might not cost him overall.
But it would affect his base salary in 2002. Gordon would be guaranteed $4.2 million, up from $2 million, next season if he reached all of his games-finished bonuses in 2001.
Face to face: Julian Tavarez will meet with baseball officials next week to discuss his five-game suspension for his involvement in a March 26 brawl with San Francisco’s Russ Davis. Tavarez appealed the decision, which was levied for “fighting, kicking and provoking a bench-clearing incident.”
Tavarez will be joined by his agent, Mitch Frankel.
“I’ll tell the truth,” Tavarez said. “But I won’t be there alone. I’m not scared or anything, but that’s why you have an agent. I don’t feel like it was my fault.”
Step right up: The Cubs are reminding fans plenty of tickets remain for the upcoming six-game homestand, which begins Friday. The highlight is Sammy Sosa bat day Saturday. The first 8,000 children 13 and under will receive a Sosa bat.
