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Baseball Capsules: Free agents in baseball means time to court, bluff
Comments 0 | Recommend 0NEW YORK — It's the time of year in baseball for courting and bluffing — sometimes simultaneously.
Free agent signing season began Friday with teams competing for a dearth of stars and a large number of players nearing the end of their careers.
With only pitcher John Lackey and outfielders Matt Holliday and Jason Bay considered elite players by most, it could be a slow signing season as teams seek to fill needs with solutions that are less than ideal.
"Those players who are franchise players that are available are even more valued because of the rarity of them," said agent Scott Boras, who represents Holliday.
The second tier includes starters Erik Bedard, Joel Pineiro and Randy Wolf; relievers Fernando Rodney and Billy Wagner; first baseman Carlos Delgado; second baseman Placido Polanco; shortstop Miguel Tejada; third baseman/outfielder Chone Figgins; third basemen Mark DeRosa and Pedro Feliz; outfielders Mike Cameron and Johnny Damon; and designated hitters Vladimir Guerrero and Hideki Matsui.
"It's not a deep marketplace, but in the end you've got some good players out there," New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya said.
Last offseason, the New York Yankees alone gave $423.5 million to pitchers CC Sabathia ($161 million) and A.J. Burnett ($82.5 million) and first baseman Mark Teixeira ($180 million).
Among others who got big deals were pitchers Derek Lowe ($60 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers), Ryan Dempster ($52 million from Chicago Cubs) and Francisco Rodriguez ($37 million from New York Mets); and outfielders Manny Ramirez ($45 million from Dodgers), Raul Ibanez ($31.5 million from Philadelphia) and Milton Bradley ($30 million from Cubs).
It's hard to see many of this year's free agents rising to similar amounts. In addition to lesser quality players, some teams have expressed concern about the weak economy.
"Conversationally, a lot of middle- and small-market teams I think are racheting their payrolls back for next year," Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said.
Boras, of course, thinks there's no reason for spending to slow.
"We've had two years of record success in the game, where the owners are making $6.5 billion," he said, a reference to the annual revenue of the major leagues. "Because of that, there's every reason for teams to continue to invest in franchises, to grow their franchises."
He says he doesn't believe it when some teams say they're not interested in signing big-money free agents.
"That pattern seems to be something that is a preferred path now," he said, "where you publicly announce you're out of a negotiation but internally you're keeping your irons in the fire to examine."
Pricey gift: MLB offers Series film set for $2,229
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball has the perfect gift to bust a budget in a recession.
A 20-DVD set of World Series films can be bought for $2,229, and it contains authenticated autographs of 12 Hall of Famers, including Yogi Berra, Bob Gibson, Reggie Jackson and Mike Schmidt.
A limited edition run of 100 sets was put together by Major League Baseball Productions, A&E Home Entertainment and Mounted Memories, the companies said Friday.
There are 65 films from 1943-08 that run for more than 50 hours. The package also has autographs from Johnny Bench, Gary Carter, Bob Feller, Rollie Fingers, Carlton Fisk, Whitey Ford, Brooks Robinson and Bruce Sutter.
MLB spokesman Jeff Heckelman said the set is also available without the autographs for $179.99 on MLB.com and in stores with a suggested retail price of $229.
National League
Brewers coaches, charity distributing meals
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers coaches Brad Fischer and Marcus Hanel, Brewers Charities and several other Milwaukee organizations will give out Thanksgiving food baskets to 500 area families on Monday.
The Thanksgiving meal program has previously given out the meals to 300 families, but officials upped the donations this year in light of the economy.
The families were identified through letters and e-mails sent to a local radio station and through area community service organizations.
The meal baskets include stuffing mix, gravy, potatoes, cranberry sauce, macaroni and cheese, canned yams, corn, green beans and fruit, applesauce, strawberry gelatin, corn muffins, cake mixes and frosting.
The Hunger Task Force is donating 300 turkeys and other groups are donating the remaining 200.
Pirates designate Karstens, add RHP Jakubauskas
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates designated right-hander Jeff Karstens for assignment and claimed right-hander Chris Jakubauskas off waivers from Seattle.
The team made the moves on Friday.
Karstens was 4-6 with a 5.42 ERA. He was acquired from the Yankees in 2008. Jakubauskas was 6-7 with a 5.32 ERA in 35 games after unexpectedly making the majors at age 30.
The Pirates have 10 days to trade, release or send Karstens, catcher Robinzon Diaz and left-hander Justin Thomas outright to the minors.
Added to the 40-man roster were right-handers Ramon Aguero, Brad Lincoln and Bryan Morris and outfielder Gorkys Hernandez.
Minor League
Art Savage, owner of Oakland A's farm club, dies
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Art Savage, the majority owner of the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, has died. He was 58.
Jeff Savage says his father collapsed at his Sacramento home Saturday and died on the way to the hospital. He says his father had recently recovered from a long battle with lung cancer.
Savage bought the team when it was based in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1998. He moved the club to Vancouver, British Columbia, for a year before relocating to Sacramento in 2000. The River Cats won Triple-A championships in 2007 and 2008.
Jeff Savage said the family will retain control of the team.
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