Saturday, December 11, 1999Winter meetings roundup
Schilling set for surgery; Delgado stays in Toronto
The Associated PressANAHEIM, Calif. — Curt Schilling's weak shoulder set back Philadelphia, Carlos Delgado stayed with Toronto and Jesse Orosco returned to the Mets on opening day Friday at baseball's winter meetings.
Also, the Chicago Cubs reached a tentative agreement with free agent catcher Joe Girardi on a three-year deal.
David Wells, Jim Edmonds and Rolando Arrojo were among the top players who had a chance of being dealt, while Chuck Finley, Greg Vaughn and Aaron Sele headed the free-agent list.
Other early scenarios: The Mets showed serious interest in free agent Todd Zeile for their vacancy at first base and the Cubs tried to get outfielder Damon Buford from Boston for infielder Manny Alexander.
The World Series champion New York Yankees, however, were staying away from the meetings. Owner George Steinbrenner figured the whole thing was a waste of time and grounded his executives.
Delgado was not going anywhere, either. At least, not now.
The slugger, who had been mentioned in trade rumors involving the Mets, agreed to a $36 million, three-year contract with the Blue Jays. Delgado's deal also gives him the right to demand a trade after next season.
Delgado hit 44 home runs with 134 RBIs this year. He would have been eligible for free agency after the 2000 season.
“This is pretty awesome from the business side,” Delgado said. “I love the city, the money is right, the terms are right and the length is right. In three years I'm a free agent again.”
The Blue Jays traded All-Star outfielder Shawn Green and former Cy Young Award winner Pat Hentgen last month, and did not like the prospect of him walking away after next season.
“We didn't want to see Carlos leave us as a free agent and the club get nothing in return,” Blue Jays general manager Gord Ash said. “This allows us to explore the marketplace and get something in return should he wish to trigger that clause.”
The Phillies got off to a shaky start at the meetings when it was announced that Schilling needed arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder and would be sidelined until May.
“I'm deeply disappointed by this,” Schilling said. “Primarily because this team is possibly ready to contend and I wanted to be there from day 1.
“The assessment is that I can be back pitching by early to mid May,” he said. “I'm holding to that timeline and working toward it.”
Schilling, 33, was 15-6 with a 3.54 ERA last season, but missed most of the last two months because of shoulder trouble.
One of the best power pitchers in the majors, he is 99-83 in a 12-year career. He led the NL with 319 strikeouts in 1997 and 300 in 1998, and tied for the league lead with 35 starts each season.
“Obviously, we would've liked to have had Curt ready from the start of spring training,” general manager Ed Wade said. “He was down for a lot of different reasons yesterday.”
The Phillies have been active in the offseason, acquiring pitcher Andy Ashby from San Diego and signing free agent closer Mike Jackson. That prompted Philadelphia to feel certain it would improve its 77-85 record and perhaps earn its first playoff spot since 1993.
In the first trade of the five-day session, the Mets acquired Orosco, a hero of New York's 1986 World Series championship team, from the Baltimore Orioles for reliever Chuck McElroy.
Orosco was 0-2 with a 5.34 ERA and one save for the Orioles. McElroy, 32, was 3-1 with a 5.50 ERA in 56 games for the Mets and Colorado.
“Jesse gives us a little better depth in the bullpen with a situational left-hander,” Mets general manager Steve Phillips said.
Girardi, 35, played the last four years for the Yankees and won three World Series championship rings. He will get about $6 million from the Cubs, the team that drafted him in 1986, and be reunited with Don Baylor, his former manager in Colorado.
San Francisco and St. Louis also tried to sign Girardi.
“They were very aggressive and so professional in their pursuit,” said Girardi's agent, Alan Nero. “That made it a very difficult decision for Joe.”
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