Monday, December 13, 1999
Winter meetings roundup
Busy Cubs get Valdes, Young from L.A.
BY BEN WALKER
AP Baseball Writer
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Convinced they need more than Sammy Sosa, the Chicago Cubs kept reshaping their roster, getting pitcher Ismael Valdes and second baseman Eric Young in a five-player trade Sunday with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Chicago, making a move for the third statright day at the winter meetings, sent reliever Terry Adams, minor league pitcher Chad Ricketts and a player to be named to the cost-conscious Dodgers. Earlier, the last-place Cubs reached tentative agreement with free agent catcher Joe Girardi and got center fielder Damon Buford in a trade with Boston.
“I know we're a heck of a lot better than when I got on the plane in Chicago,” general manager Ed Lynch said.
Said new manager Don Baylor: “If you look at the Chicago Cubs, it became Sammy Sosa's Cubs, where guys expected home runs, not wins.”
The Philadelphia Phillies, needing a starter while Curt Schilling recovers from surgery, got Chris Brock from San Francisco for backup catcher Bobby Estalella. Also, Baltimore sent reserve infielder Jeff Reboulet to Kansas City for a player to be named.
The New York Mets, who are in the Ken Griffey talks with Seattle, made a pitch to Cleveland for Manny Ramirez. The Mets offered pitchers Armando Benitez and Octavio Dotel and outfielder Roger Cedeno.
“We have several larger deals that we're still thinking about and contemplating,” Mets GM Steve Phillips said. “For the most part, you know what it will be, but nobody's got to the point where they have the courage to say, "Let's do it.”'
Offered Cleveland GM John Hart: “Manny wants to be an Indian. He's made that clear. We like Manny very much.”
Chuck Finley's name was prominent, too. Cut loose by Anaheim, the free agent pitcher is attracting interest from Cleveland, Seattle, Baltimore and Boston.
The New York Yankees could pursue Finley, provided they work out a trade for Irabu. Though the Yankees were staying away from these meetings, they were talking to Cincinnati by phone about a deal for Irabu, their No. 5 starter.
Arizona locked up Tony Womack, the NL stolen base leader for three straight seasons, with a $17 million, four-year contract.
Womack, 30, stole 72 bases last season as the Diamondbacks' leadoff man. Moved from second base to right field by Arizona in 1999, he's shifting to shortstop for 2000.
Butch Henry, who played for Colorado in its first season, returned to the Rockies with a minor league contract. He was 2-0 with a 5.04 ERA for Seattle last season.
The Cubs and Dodgers both continued to take care of their needs with the five-player trade. Los Angeles wants to reduce its payroll while Chicago sought a starting pitcher and a leadoff man.
“This is more than a talent issue; cost efficiency is what we're trying to do,” Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone said. “It frees up $9 or $10 million this year and $4.5 million next year. The dollars are big.”
The Cubs were next-to-last among the 16 NL teams in batting average and ERA. Always aggressive, Baylor knew his team needed an immediate makeover.
“It had to be,” he said.
Valdes was 9-14 with a 3.98 ERA in 32 starts for the Dodgers. The 26-year-old righty is 61-54 with a career 3.38 ERA and will fill the spot in the rotation left by free agent Steve Trachsel.
Young, 32, played almost five years for Baylor in Colorado. He hit .281 with 41 RBIs and 51 stolen bases last season.
Adams, 26, was 6-3 with 13 saves and a 4.02 ERA in 52 games last season. He figures to be a setup man for Jeff Shaw.
“Pretty much every day I've read my name in trade rumors,” Adams said. “I figured I was going to be part of a deal, but I didn't know where. I didn't know about LA.”
Reds Stories
BENGALS 44, BROWNS 28
Coslet bungles Dillon's shot at history
Late-season run familiar, meaningless
Cinergy goes out with a roar
Grand finale (maybe) for Blake
Yeast, Mack provide many happy returns
Dillon nears Bengals' season record
Bengals-Browns statistics
Xavier talk must wait for UC
Munoz commits to Tennessee
Mighty Ducks 2, Philadelphia 1
Reds page
