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During a brief telephone chat between two Cubs legends last week, there was no avoiding a discussion about "the call."

Ryne Sandberg may get the call Tuesday from the Hall of Fame, informing him he will be inducted into Cooperstown with the Class of 2003. Slugger Eddie Murray and catcher Gary Carter appear to be the most likely to be elected.

Ron Santo, meanwhile, will have to wait until Feb. 26 to find out whether the reconfigured Veterans Committee has selected him.

Sandberg is trying not to get his hopes up. But he said "it would be very cool" if the two Cubs greats were fortunate enough to enter the Hall together in August.

"I just called him at the hospital to see how he's doing," Sandberg said from his Arizona home. "We talked a little bit about both our chances, just a little baseball along with talking about (Santo's health, which led to his second leg amputation late last year).

"I think we both agreed on the conclusion that you never know in baseball on a day-to-day basis how the game's going to be played, and you never know what's going to happen in all the different awards.

"This falls in the same category as a baseball game. You just never know."

Appearing on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time, Sandberg would seem to have a strong case. He finished with the most career home runs by a second baseman (277) and has the third-highest fielding percentage (.989).

Offensively, his career numbers also include a .285 batting average, 403 doubles, 1,061 RBI and 344 stolen bases.

But unlike last year's inductee, Cardinals shortstop Ozzie Smith, Sandberg wasn't afforded the opportunity of showcasing himself in World Series games.

Whether that will be a factor in the voting by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America remains to be seen.

"That's the one thing I regret," Sandberg said.

"It's hard to have it all. I was able to be in the postseason, to get a taste of that twice (in 1984 and '89). Of course, everyone wants to play in the World Series. I felt like I had at least two opportunities."

TRADE WINDS: The New York Mets, the Boston Red Sox and the Montreal Expos have discussed a three-way trade that would send third baseman Shea Hillenbrand from Boston to the Mets and either Bartolo Colon or Javier Vazquez, both starters, from Montreal to the Red Sox, an official of one team said.

Hillenbrand is exactly the kind of player the Mets are looking for at third: He hits right-handed, is only 27 years old, makes less than $500,000 and is coming off an All-Star season. To get him, though, the Mets would have to satisfy Montreal general manager Omar Minaya's asking price for Colon or Vazquez.

Minaya has not moved Colon or Vazquez despite a mandate from Major League Baseball, which owns the Expos, to keep the team's payroll around $40 million. The Red Sox have offered Hillenbrand for Colon, but Montreal also wanted the left-hander Casey Fossum, whom Boston would not trade.

The Red Sox, who lost out on Cuban right-hander Jose Contreras to the Yankees, also have shown interest in free agent left-hander Kenny Rogers as protection if they do not get a starter from Montreal.

INDIANS: Cleveland continues to shop for a bargain-basement right-handed hitter. Ideally, he'd be able to play the outfield and third base.

Right now, the Indians have been talking to Shane Spencer, the one-time Yankee phenom. He was once New York's left fielder of the future, but knee injuries and failure to display big-time talent changed the Yankees' minds.

Why do the Indians like Spencer? He batted only .247 with six HR and 34 RBI last season in 288 at-bats.

"He really does hit left-handed pitching," said a Tribe insider. "He also is a good guy, plays hard and will be only 30 next season. He can play some first base along with the outfield. We think he can help us."

Over the last three years, Spencer has hit .296 vs. lefties with a .463 slugging percentage. He's a .250 hitter vs. righties in the same period.

New Tribe manager Eric Wedge has spoken to Spencer, explaining the role they have in mind for him. Right now, the starting outfield is Matt Lawton in left, Milton Bradley in center and Karim Garcia in right. Lawton and Garcia are left-handed hitters. Lawton also is coming off major shoulder surgery. Alex Escobar is a right-handed hitter and coming off major knee surgery. So the Indians' outfield ain't exactly Albert Belle/Kenny Lofton/Manny Ramirez.

The Indians also are looking at 37-year-old Ron Gant, who batted .262 with 18 HR and 59 RBI for San Diego last season. But they don't know if Gant will be in their price range, and they aren't sure if he has a strong interest in the Tribe. He'd probably prefer a contender.

Also on the Tribe's consideration list is John Valentin, who batted only .240 with three HR for the Mets. Like Gant and Spencer, he is a free agent.

TWIN CUBS: Nobody would ever mistake Matt Clement for teammate Kerry Wood, the Cubs' ace.

But Wood was 12-11 with a 3.66 ERA in 2002. He struck out 217 in 213 innings and opponents hit .221 off him with a .320 on-base percentage.

Clement was 12-11 with a 3.60 ERA, 215 strikeouts in 205 innings, an opponents' batting average of .215 and a .299 on-base percentage.

ROYALS: Center fielder Carlos Beltran, who has two years to go before he can become a free agent, has turned down a three-year $25.3 million contract extension. But Royals GM Allard Baird said he has no plans to trade Beltran.