MARINERS OFFER TEJADA $24 MILLION, HEYMAN ON THE MEDDLING WILPONS



the following, by Bob Finnegan, is from today's Seattle Times :

While still trying to figure out if they can sign relievers Shigetoshi Hasegawa and Arthur Rhodes and center fielder Mike Cameron, the Mariners have started trying to man the left side of the infield.

To that end, the Mariners are believed to have offered Oakland free-agent shortstop Miguel Tejada a contract thought to be three years at $24 million to $25 million, with an option for a fourth year.

They have not gotten that far with Kazuo Matsui, Japanese free-agent shortstop. Various New York papers said the Mets offered a three-year deal similar to the one signed by the Yankees' Hideki Matsui (no relation) for $21 million.

"It appears, if that news is right, that Matsui will be a Met," a Mariners source said.

Here are some choice comments from Newsday's Jon Heyman about the roles of Fred and Jeff Wilpon in the Mets' recent moves (or more to the point, non-moves) :

The Wilpons, while far kinder than their crosstown counterpart - they've never fired an employee three times in one week - rank second only to Steinbrenner in terms of involvement. And Fred and Jeff Wilpon may be gaining. General manager Jim Duquette got one new title but two new shadows.

The younger Wilpon accompanied Duquette to the Dominican Republic this week as Duquette undertook the unhappy task of telling shortstop phenom Jose Reyes he henceforth is a second- base phenom, providing heralded Kaz Matsui accepts the Mets' $20-million offer. This was a Wilpon family production all the way, beginning with younger son Bruce's courting of Matsui months ago. Duquette fulfilled his duty but appeared more messenger than mover.

Not that Expos GM Omar Minaya is a vengeful man, but by sending yet another star to the Bronx, Minaya might have inadvertently exacted revenge on the Mets, who offered him a diminished title and role when they "pursued" him two months ago. Many believe Minaya is far better off running his financially frustrated franchise than running errands for the Wilpons.

Duquette deserves a chance to show what he can do, and eventually he might get it. In the meantime, he has the appearance of a titled helper, another name on a masthead that includes all the constant consultants, including Al Leiter, John Franco and Tom Glavine.

Though the Wilpons treat people much more humanely than Steinbrenner does and don't incite comparable craziness, their imprint will be just as strong. People familiar with their thinking suggest there was a split within the Mets' hierarchy regarding Reyes' move. And Duquette lost.
That explains the lameness of the offer to free-agent second baseman Luis Castillo. The Mets had to know their offer was doomed from the start because Florida offered the same $16 million, plus no state tax and a vesting option to return. But now that that charade is over, the Wilpons have put their efforts into their real target, Matsui, who'd bring talent and cachet.

If you're a believer in karma, justice or just the idea that lazy jerks should sweat a little before keeping their jobs, the Chicago Tribune today described the White Sox and Roberto Alomar as "far apart".

Posted: Fri - December 5, 2003 at 02:23 PM      

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