Scott Boras started off saying Carlos Beltran was worth $200 million. Nobody ever bought that, but he did get an offer for at least half that from Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane, who throws nickels around like manhole covers.
Just ask his front-office employees.
As the 11 p.m. Saturday deadline for Beltran to re-sign with Houston passed with no deal, it became clear a seven-year, $100 million offer (reported by some as $105 million) would not get the job done. There was little doubt, however, why McLane had gone to such lengths to try to hang on to a guy who once had been assumed to be only a 2004 rental.
Two words: Roger Clemens.
Behind the scenes, Clemens had been tightening the screws on McLane. The Houston pitching icon had let it be known his decision on whether to retire for good hinges on the Astros keeping Beltran.
In earning a seventh Cy Young Award last season, Clemens answered any doubts about whether his body has more baseball in it. He may not be able to win another Cy Young at 43, but he would be in the top handful of pitchers in the league, especially now that Randy Johnson and Carl Pavano are with the Yankees.
But when not playing golf, the Rocket has spent the winter talking about how tough it is to prepare himself to dominate hitters. He says he doesn’t want to “waste my time” with a team that is not capable of being the first in Texas to reach the World Series.
So as spun by Clemens, the Beltran talks were a two-star proposition for Houston.
But were they really? Probably not.
Clemens has made himself the center of the baseball universe while pitching for four teams in two countries. He enjoys the stage too much to walk off when he has more greatness in his body.
It will be tough for the Astros to win without Beltran, but hardly impossible. They will miss the production they got from Jeff Kent. But in Clemens, Roy Oswalt, Andy Pettitte and Brandon Backe, they have a strong starting rotation to go with dominant closer Brad Lidge.
And if things fell apart for the Astros, Clemens could get back to the playoffs by agreeing to a trade that sent him back to one of his old teams. Imagine the July 31 bidding between Boston and the Yankees.
The guess is we haven’t seen the last of Clemens, regardless of Beltran’s decision.
The new math
Carlos Lee makes his first off-season appearance in Milwaukee on Monday. He figures to be welcomed with open arms, as he brings a needed offensive presence to the Brewers.
The White Sox will miss his run production, but what would you rather have: Lee or Orlando Hernandez, A.J. Pierzynski, Scott Podsednik and Luis Vizcaino?
By using the surplus created when he dumped Lee’s $8 million salary to sign Hernandez ($4 million a year for two years) and Pierzynski ($2.25 million), Sox general manager Ken Williams essentially turned the Lee trade into a four-for-one transaction. He walks away with a leadoff man and a catcher, both with All-Star potential, as well as a No. 3 starter and a set-up man.
(Note to myself: Clip and save for Executive of the Year stories if Sox finally overthrow Minnesota).
The hunter
Like mediocre relief pitchers, wild animals are advised to avoid new Hall of Famer Wade Boggs. He has more than 140 large and exotic taxidermy trophies hanging in his home in Tampa, including many killed on African safaris.
“When you get to a point where you’re hunting animals that can hunt you, it puts a different element into the game,” he told the St. Petersburg Times.
“It’s not just like deer hunting anymore. You experience black mambas, Cape buffaloes and things of that nature. You’re staying in tents for 24 days, which gives you an appreciation [for] home.”
Boggs has gone weeks in the jungle with trackers and guides who would eat only what the hunters kill. He claimed he is something of a hero in one region of Mozambique for killing predators.
“The hippo had killed three villagers and the crocodile had killed two kids, so I was sort of the Great White Hunter who came in and saved the village,” Boggs said. “They had a big party for me and they put you on a chair and carry you around like you’re the king. It was a moving experience. In Tanzania, I was chasing a lion that was killing cattle, and they wanted me to kill the lion. So I was doing a service for these people and getting these animals out of there that they’re not allowed to touch.”
Sorting it out
Mark Attanasio’s purchase of the Milwaukee Brewers is expected to be approved at an owners’ meeting Thursday. It is a complicated transaction because some of Bud Selig’s partners are going while others stay, but the group is valuing the franchise at $220 million.
Attanasio will be managing partner with full authority but could wind up owning less than 50 percent of the team. That would be nothing new, of course, as Selig’s share (which has been in trust since he was named commissioner in 1998) reportedly is 28 percent. That leaves him in line for about $61.6 million for overseeing the destitute franchise that relocated from Seattle to Milwaukee in 1970.
Plus the brats have been free.
Whispers
While the Orioles are making another push to sign first baseman Carlos Delgado, there’s a new round of Sammy Sosa-to-Baltimore rumors going around. The names heard with these include pitcher Sidney Ponson, closer Jorge Julio, outfielder Jay Gibbons and second baseman Jerry Hairston Jr. . . . Arizona could be a Sosa possibility if the Shawn Green deal breaks down again. The Diamondbacks say they want to win, but they have to sell tickets with Johnson no longer around. . . . Look for Houston to try to trade for Seattle’s Randy Winn after not being able to re-sign Beltran. Tampa Bay’s Jose Cruz Jr. is another possibility.
Here’s why Delgado should stop messing around and get a deal done with Texas: He has hit 19 homers in 155 career at-bats at Ameriquest Field in Arlington, which was built for left-handed power hitters. The Mets also are continuing talks with Delgado. . . . Reds GM Dan O’Brien insists he’s not shopping outfielder Austin Kearns even though Kearns and Wily Mo Pena are fighting for playing time beside Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn. . . . Too bad neither Chicago team has found room for utility man Rob Mackowiak, who is one of six Pirates still eligible for arbitration. He’s one of the best bench players in the game.
The Washington Nationals hired Jose Cardenal to help develop leadoff men in their organization. Endy Chavez, who stole 32 bases but had a .318 on-base percentage last year, is his first project. . . . Former White Sox prospect Jon Rauch will have to earn his spot in the Nationals’ rotation in spring training. After a strong winter, Gary Majewski, who also went from the Sox to the Nationals in the latest Carl Everett trade, has a great shot at a bullpen spot. . . . Tampa Bay is moving the newly signed Alex Gonzalez to third base.
The last word
“Jim Frey made him pull the ball. He took him down to the cage all by himself and made him pull everything.”–Longtime Philadelphia Phillies coach and now special assistant John Vukovich on how new Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg became a power hitter.
