Boston's Offer Exceeds Cardinals' For Renteria
By Joe Strauss Of the Post-Dispatch
December 12, 2004
The Cardinals intend to learn Sunday whether shortstop Edgar
Renteria will
accept an admittedly below-market offer to return as the club's
shortstop or
accept a four-year deal from the Boston Red Sox that will make him the
game's
third highest-paid player at the position.
Renteria's decision probably will set off a flurry of activity by
the
defending National League champions, which is among teams yet to jump
into the
game's overheated free-agent pool.
A decision by Renteria to return for a four-year contract worth
about $32
million would leave general manager Walt Jocketty to seek a less costly
free-agent pitcher or intensify his efforts to trade for Oakland A's
righthander
Tim Hudson. Rejection by Renteria would free money enabling the club to
re-enter
negotiations for free-agent righthander Pedro Martinez or restart trade
talks
with the Arizona Diamondbacks regarding lefthander Randy Johnson,
according to
club sources.
"We're still meeting; we'll see what happens," Jocketty said.
The wait for Renteria coincides with the Cardinals' apparent
resignation to
losing Gold Glove catcher Mike Matheny, who has become a target of at
least four
other National League clubs, most notably the San Francisco Giants.
Jocketty met with the agents for Renteria and Matheny on Saturday
as Renteria
's rumored signing with the Red Sox never materialized. The Cardinals
did not
modify their proposal to Renteria, according to Jocketty, and hoped to
learn a
decision after Barry Meister joined fellow agent Jeffrey Lane in talks.
Jocketty again said the club would not improve its two-year, $4
million bid
to Matheny and acknowledged "the market has grown" for him. Jocketty
added the
club likely would pursue a backup to Yadier Molina.
The Cardinals have mapped several courses they might take
depending on
Renteria's decision. Jocketty acknowledged Saturday that Renteria's
return would
likely eliminate the financial flexibility necessary to pursue Martinez
or
Johnson.
Martinez has received a two-year, $25.5 million offer to return
to the Boston
Red Sox and a three-year, $38 million bid from the New York Mets.
Johnson is due
$17 million in 2005 before becoming a free agent and has suggested that
a
contract extension is a prerequisite for waiving his no-trade
privilege.
Asked how he would commit money freed up by the potential loss of
Renteria,
Jocketty replied, "Pitching."
The Cardinals spoke with agent Scott Boras about client pitchers
Kevin
Millwood and Derek Lowe. Millwood is a favorite of pitching coach Dave
Duncan;
Lowe fits the ground-ball demographic preferred by the club. An
industry source
on Saturday described free agent Matt Clement as "a Plan B." Meanwhile,
Jocketty
has been lobbied by several players, including closer Jason
Isringhausen, to
pursue Hudson, a former Oakland A's teammate.
Hudson was once pursued by as many as seven teams; but the field
has
apparently thinned to the Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore
Orioles.
The Dodgers are considered the best-equipped to make a deal while the
Orioles
haven't transacted a significant trade since before the 1999 season.
The
Cardinals retain interest but are unwilling to part with Jason Marquis
and are
reluctant to package Rick Ankiel and Dan Haren for any pitcher. The A's
desire a
second baseman for Hudson but are not impressed by the availability of
Bo Hart.
Jocketty is willing to redirect attention to other A's starters
Barry Zito
and Mark Mulder if Hudson's price is too steep. Interest also exists in
lefthander Eric Milton, though the New York Yankees are intrigued by
Milton, who
they once drafted then traded to the Minnesota Twins.
The Cardinals apparently will need to find two more starters to
open the
season, not one. Team medical supervisor George Paletta confirmed
Saturday that
Matt Morris is not scheduled for a pitch count of 100 until six weeks
into the
schedule. Paletta said it is more realistic Morris could work out of
the bullpen
in April. Haren is expected to assume the No. 5 starter role barring a
second
acquisition. "Whether (Morris) starts opening day or by May, I think
he's got a
lot of season ahead of him," manager Tony La Russa said.
Committing heavy dollars to a pitcher could leave Jocketty to
pursue
free-agent shortstop Barry Larkin, who was not offered arbitration last
week by
the Cincinnati Reds.
The Cardinals have had preliminary talks with Larkin's agent,
Eric
Goldschmidt, and are not deterred by Larkin's age (40) or his recent
history of
injuries.
"He's somebody we might have interest in," Jocketty said.
Still, Renteria remains the catalyst for the team's offseason
blueprint.
La Russa attempted to phone Renteria on Saturday but sounded a
cautionary
tone with discussing the return of a player he calls "The Captain."
La Russa said that he stood "on the pessimistic side of the line"
regarding
Renteria's return. He added, "We've got a shot, but in the end I can't
think of
too many times when we we've gone after a key guy and gotten him when
we had to
pay the market or more than the market. And right now, it looks like
that's what
it might be."
Suggesting a so-called home-team discount is in order, La Russa
said, "If
playing in St. Louis doesn't mean that he cuts us a little slack, we
usually don
't get the guy."
Renteria could not be reached Saturday night; however, he
previously noted
the club's ability to sign other All-Stars such as first baseman Albert
Pujols
and third baseman Scott Rolen for significant sums -- Pujols for $100
million
over seven seasons and Rolen for $90 million over eight. Pujols signed
his
extension before reaching salary arbitration; Rolen signed nearly two
months
before filing for free agency.
La Russa argued both players signed for below-market value,
saying "two or
three" teams later told him they would have made higher bids for Rolen
had he
tested free agency.
The Cardinals have spoken with agents for free-agent second
baseman Placido
Polanco and are prepared to act should Renteria defect. Jocketty says
he may
also entertain other options, such as non-tendered players who become
available
after the Dec. 20 deadline. The Orioles' Jerry Hairston may be among
that group.
(The Cardinals acquired Marlon Anderson as a second base candidate
after the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays refused him a contract last December.) The
Cardinals also
have interest in Miguel Cairo, who became available after the Yankees
signed
Tony Womack to a two-year, $4 million deal last Tuesday.
Anaheim Angels shortstop David Eckstein, a leadoff type, could
also become a
non-tender free agent.
Jocketty downplayed the possibility of trading for Tampa Bay
Devil Rays
shortstop Julio Lugo, who may become available to create room for B.J.
Upton.
"We haven't talked to them," he said.
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