The Mitchell Report on steroid use in baseball is due out very soon, apparently naming names, and while it hangs like a dark cloud over baseball’s winter meetings, general managers have talked about it very little.
One report had 11 free agents being named and another said nearly all 30 teams would be touched.
Do Chicago’s general managers take into account the possibility that a free agent they sign or a player they acquire in trade might be included and possibly suspended if the commissioner comes down hard?
“I would like to say no, but the truth of the matter is yes,” White Sox GM Ken Williams said. “How can you not? I’m very particular about a lot of little peripheral things. That is one more thing to factor in.”
The Cubs’ Jim Hendry says he relies on scouts doing their homework on character issues before acquiring players.
“Are you trying to be aware of it and are you taking it lightly?” Hendry asked. “Absolutely, you don’t take it lightly but you can’t go to bed every night think, gee, I heard back in ’01 that this guy might have done that.
“You don’t just blow it off like who cares, but in the same sense people have done certain things that we would all feel maybe weren’t appropriate. We have no idea who they are and we can’t speculate.”
Pitching, pitching, pitching
With Minnesota’s Johan Santana apparently headed to the Red Sox (the Yankees have said the price is too high and the Angels claim they were never in it), at least two big-name starters are drawing scads of interest.
The A’s have made Dan Haren available and while it would seem logical to include the Yankees as front-runners, one rumor claimed he could land in Arizona, which has young talent to spare.
And the Orioles are shopping lefty Erik Bedard, because they believe he is too expensive to sign long term. The Blue Jays have shown great interest, although the Orioles probably would like to trade him out of the division, possibly to the Mets, who also have their eyes on Japanese pitcher Hiroki Kuroda. Rumors have Kuroda getting as much as $50 million over five years.
The Indians are getting plenty of interest in lefty Cliff Lee and want a corner outfielder in return.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox and Twins are believed to have talked about finalizing a Santana trade well into the night.
Hughes honored
Hendry’s front-office confidant and friend, Gary Hughes, was given the lifetime achievement award from Baseball America. Hughes hired Hendry with the Marlins, then Hendry hired Hughes when he became Cubs general manager.
In fact, Hendry choked up while talking about the award.
“He made a huge difference to the profession, not just in the acquisition department, but in how scouts are treated and how scouts are paid better, given the respect they deserve,” Hendry said. “The things he has done for the game behind the scenes, you can’t put into words. … He should have been a general manager a long time ago.”
Extra innings
The trade of Miguel Cabrera should open up the logjam of third baseman being shopped. But a potential trade of Scott Rolen from the Cardinals to the Brewers has been declared dead, both because the Cardinals didn’t want to deal him within the division and because the Brewers are wary of Rolen’s injury history. …
Former Cub catcher Michael Barrett is a free agent, although the Padres have offered him arbitration. One team interested in signing him is Baltimore, which ex-Cubs president Andy MacPhail runs. … Another former Cub, Corey Patterson, now appears to be a former Oriole. They did not offer him arbitration after a season of .269 with 45 RBIs and 37 stolen bases. “I’m a good player. I know what I can do for a team,” Patterson told the Baltimore Sun. “I can’t say what’s going to happen or what’s not going to happen, but I know there are a handful of teams out there looking for an outfielder or, specifically, a center fielder.” …
The Royals, who seem to have stumbled on some hidden cash, not only signed outfielder Jose Guillen for three years and $36 million but are talking about taking on Sammy Sosa as well. They also feel they are in the sweepstakes for Kuroda. … Former Cub Glendon Rusch, who was forced into a one-year retirement because of a life-threatening blood clot, wants to pitch again after being cleared by doctors and losing 16 pounds. A handful of teams are interested, including the Padres and Reds, who are managed by Dusty Baker.
dvandyck@tribune.com
