The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nomar, Pedro and Manny aren't going anywhere. New Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said Friday the chances of a blockbuster deal involving one of the team's superstars is "very, very, very small."

Quelling speculation that has been a staple of talk radio, Epstein said the Red Sox weren't looking to trade shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, right-hander Pedro Martinez or outfielder Manny Ramirez.

"I can't envision a scenario in which that would happen," Epstein said on the opening day of the baseball winter meetings at the Opryland Hotel. "There's nothing in the works in that regard."

Garciaparra, a two-time AL batting champion, has two years left on a contract that will pay him at least $22 million. Martinez, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, is under contract for $15 million in 2003, and the team holds a $17.5 million option for the next season.

With the Red Sox on the hook to Ramirez for at least six more years of his eight-year, $160 million deal, speculation has intensified that the team cannot afford to keep Martinez and Garciaparra beyond 2004. The team is also leery of letting them leave as free agents, having watched pitcher Roger Clemens and slugger Mo Vaughn walk in the 1990s and getting nothing in return.

As Epstein, who became the youngest GM in baseball history last month, prepared for his first winter meetings, the trade whispers began to grow louder. But the 28-year-old said he knew how to put the team's interest first.

"The business of the Boston Red Sox, making the club better, has nothing to do with me," he said. "I can't see anyone in my situation making something happen out of self-interest."

More likely to come out of the meetings is a smaller deal. After arriving in the afternoon, Epstein was planning to begin making the rounds of the other GMs on Friday to see what might be available.

"Just the normal routine," he said, "road trips and home games, our suite or theirs."

Epstein also said he has put in calls to the agent for outfielder Cliff Floyd. The two sides are working toward a Dec. 19 deadline, when Floyd must either accept or reject the team's offer of arbitration. If he rejects it, the Red Sox cannot negotiate with him after Jan. 8.

The team has expressed an interest in Hideki Matsui, a three-time MVP of Japan's Central League. More enticing is Jose Contreras, a Cuban pitcher who defected, but negotiations with him cannot begin until he clears up his residency and becomes a free agent.

Among the teams Epstein planned to meet with is the Montreal Expos, who could be selling off stars to meet budget limits. The Expos could shed Vladimir Guerrero, Bartolo Colon or Javier Vazquez.

BRAVES: Atlanta re-signed first baseman Wes Helms to a one-year contract worth $575,000. Helms, who also plays third base and outfield, can earn an additional $25,000 if he meets performance goals, said his agent, Lonnie Cooper.

CARDINALS: Right-hander Chris Carpenter and St. Louis agreed to a one-year, $500,000 contract. Carpenter will be guaranteed $300,000 next season, but his salary would grow to $500,000 if he is put on the active roster during the season.

DEVIL RAYS: Tampa Bay sold the rights to infielder Andy Sheets to the Hiroshima Carp of Japan's Central League. Earlier this week, the Devil Rays sold the rights to first baseman Steve Cox to Yokohama of the Central League.

INDIANS: Outfielder Karim Garcia signed a $900,000, one-year contract with Cleveland, avoiding salary arbitration. The left-handed Garcia drove in a major league-best 52 runs after he was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Aug. 6.

MARINERS: Seattle hired Lamar Johnson as hitting coach, completing new manager Bob Melvin's coaching staff. Johnson, 52, spent the past four seasons as the Kansas City Royals' hitting coach and four years before that in the same position with the Milwaukee Brewers.

METS: Gary Carter will step up his role with New York, becoming a full-time minor-league catching instructor. The 11-time All-Star had been a part-time instructor for the Mets during the past two seasons.

The Mets also settled one of their potential salary arbitration cases, agreeing to a $600,000, one-year contract with infielder Joe McEwing. The 30-year-old McEwing hit .199 with three homers and 26 RBI in 199 at-bats last season.

PHILLIES: Left-hander Randy Wolf signed a four-year, $22.5 million contract to stay in Philadelphia. Wolf, who was 11-9 last season with a 3.20 ERA, will earn $2.5 million in 2003, $4.25 million in 2004, $6.5 million in 2005 and $9 million in 2006.

PIRATES: Right-handed reliever Al Reyes signed a one-year contract with Pittsburgh that would pay him $450,000 if he is in the major leagues and $115,000 if he is in the minors. Reyes was 0-0 with a 2.65 ERA in 15 games with the Pirates.

ROCKIES: Infielder Greg Norton and catcher Bobby Estalella signed one-year contracts with Colorado. Norton gets $600,000, and Estalella's terms weren't disclosed.