Tuesday, October 12, 2004 |
Let The Bidding Commence
"I've made it clear that we want Adrian to be here," DePodesta said. "He played a huge role in our success and he's definitely someone you want to have around, for obvious reasons.Of course, the problem being that if negotiations break down between Beltre and the club, that's it; they don't get a second chance. One good season in five is hardly precedent for the kind of salaries that guys like Scott Rolen and Albert Pujols have received."At the same time, I don't know what's going to happen. We're prepared for the give and take that's going to take place, but in the end it's not our decision."
Well, it is to a degree.
Agent Scott Boras has declined to discuss his plans for Beltre, but baseball sources familiar with Boras' thinking said he might initially seek more than $12 million a season in a seven-year deal.
Dodger sources said it was highly doubtful that DePodesta would recommend committing anything in that range to Beltre, who made $5 million in 2004. The Dodgers might not go beyond a four-year contract that averaged $11 million, a team source said.
And then there's Lima Time:
Lima's situation isn't as clear.Indeed. On a team chock full of 3-4 starters, Lima's just another face in the crowd -- albeit one who's actually won a postseason game. As much as the Weaver/Brazoban for Brown trade grossly favored the Dodgers in August, you will notice that Kevin Brown actually won his start for the Yankees against the Twins this weekend. There's something to be said for ace pitchers, back trouble or no; if Frank isn't going to let the club have a reasonably large payroll this year, "contending" will take on the same meaning it has for the Braves these last three years -- or worse, the Dodgers revert to being simply "competitive", as they were under Fox.The ebullient right-hander resuscitated his career in his first season in Los Angeles and threw a five-hitter in a 4-0 victory over St. Louis in Game 3 at Dodger Stadium.
But at 32, Lima plans to seek at least a two-year deal. That might be more "Lima Time" than the Dodgers would prefer.
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