Greener On The Other Side Renteria Spurns Cardinals For Red Sox's Money
By Joe Strauss Of the Post-Dispatch
December 16, 2004
Before reaching its conclusion late Tuesday night, the Cardinals'
pursuit of
Edgar Renteria drove them to a $9 million-a-year neighborhood they long
refused
to visit.
But Renteria decided on what had been equally unthinkable,
accepting the
Boston Red Sox's four-year, $40 million offer less than two months
after making
the final out against them in a four-game World Series.
Renteria's decision won't become official until he passes a team
physical;
however, that is enough of a formality that the Red Sox have scheduled
a news
conference in Boston for no later than Friday. Renteria confirmed the
move in an
interview with a Boston Globe foreign correspondent Wednesday, saying
the Red
Sox were "more interested in my playing for them."
Edison Renteria, the shortstop's older brother, told the
Associated Press in
a phone interview from Barranquilla, Colombia, "We will travel to
Boston later
this week to define the details of the four-year contract. Edgar is
very happy.
The conditions are excellent."
The decision surprised and disappointed the Cardinals, who had
delayed the
rest of their offseason moves while focusing on Renteria, the marquee
free agent
shortstop. Manager Tony La Russa spoke to the two-time Gold Glove
winner
periodically since last week and was optimistic about his return.
After insisting they had made their final offer to Renteria last
weekend, the
Cardinals hiked their four-year, $32 million bid to $36 million on
Monday, club
sources said, only to be rejected.
"I know we made a move up," La Russa said. "The difference in the
two offers
isn't enough that I'm not disappointed."
The Cardinals' last offer, sources said, included significant
deferred money
with interest, which could have brought the package up to $39 million.
The Red
Sox's bid did not include deferrals and includes a club option for
2009.
"I think we went beyond reasonable for us," La Russa said. "There
is a figure
that doesn't make sense for us to pay. ... I thought $8 million was at
the top
of where we should be. He indicated he wanted to stay. It still wasn't
enough."
Acquired from the Florida Marlins in December 1998, Renteria
emerged as a
four-time All-Star and arguably the National League's top shortstop
while in St. Louis. He batted .305 in 2002 before hitting .330 with 194 hits in
2003, the
season in which he set a club record at his position with 100 RBIs.
Renteria,
listed as 29 but believed a year younger, stole at least 17 bases each
season in
St. Louis, including 34 in 41 attempts in the 2003 season. Four times
he amassed
more than 35 doubles.
While Renteria may have given La Russa the impression he wanted
to return,
his comments to the Globe suggested frustration with the team's
approach to
bargaining.
"When they want you and they try everything to get you -- it
could be
economic; it could be calling and showing real interest in you --
that's what
makes a difference," Renteria said. "I know the St. Louis team and fans
wanted
me to stay. But (management) didn't try hard to keep me. That's what I
felt in
negotiations."
Barry Meister, one of Renteria's agents, refused comment
Wednesday pending an
official announcement.
The defection of Renteria and second baseman Tony Womack leaves
the Cardinals
to retool their middle infield. Womack accepted a two-year, $4 million
offer
from the New York Yankees on Dec. 7.
Renteria's signing could be doubly injurious to the Cardinals
because it
probably will increase the demands of remaining free agent middle
infielders.
The club has learned that second baseman Placido Polanco is seeking
more than $5
million per season while Orlando Cabrera, now the market's top
shortstop,
anticipates offers of more than $7 million per season for four years.
"We don't think Orlando Cabrera is that much lesser a player than
Edgar
Renteria," Cabrera's lead agent, Dan Lozano, said Wednesday. "He is
certainly
the most attractive shortstop available."
The Cardinals may instead examine less pricey options, such as
veteran Barry
Larkin, who could form a time share with Hector Luna. The Tampa Bay
Devil Rays'
Julio Lugo is a leading trade candidate.
The Cardinals also will scrutinize those players not tendered
contracts by
their teams on Dec. 20. Among them is Baltimore Orioles second baseman
Jerry
Hairston, who has the speed and plate discipline to be a leadoff
candidate.
"The worst thing you can do is overreact and overpay for somebody
just to
fill a spot," La Russa said. "We have a very good core and we'll
complement it
with people who can execute and play.
"We've been very competitive for a number of years. Part of that
is because
you assign value to players based on what you've got. If it doesn't
work, you
don't make deals you eventually regret."
Losing Renteria, catcher Mike Matheny and starting pitcher Woody
Williams
subtracts three of the most respected veteran players from the
Cardinals, who
won 105 games last season and had a cohesive clubhouse. La Russa
maintains the
character of the team remains in place.
"We've got a lot of leaders left on that club," La Russa said.
"Mostly we don
't need to get ... discouraged. We're dealing from strength. We can get
better
if we do smart things."
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