With the exception of betting on games, which is unforgivable, baseball’s second cardinal sin is to admit you aren’t trying to win. But that’s what Jim Beattie of the Montreal Expos said Friday during the annual general managers meeting.
A one-time hard-throwing pitcher who always gave 100 percent, Beattie should not be hauled before the commissioner to explain his negative approach. “My horizon is far away,” he said.
He insisted the Expos will try to win as many games as possible next season but “won’t try to win a divisional title.”
Instead, he is trying to develop a contending club for the year 2001, four seasons hence when the Expos expect to move into a new stadium. According to this scenario, once they have a new ballpark the sugar-plum visions will become a reality.
Beattie is attempting to cut payroll and downsize by trading his two highest-paid players, Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez and Mike Lansing, who has emerged as one of baseball’s best second basemen.
Together, they were paid $6.3 million last season, Martinez $3.6 million, Lansing $2.7 million, the equivalent of one-third of the Expos’ meager $18.4 million payroll.
Some insiders report the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians, bloated with dough, might be willing to take both. But it’s more realistic to believe the two will wind up with different clubs.
Beattie was asked if the Cubs have shown interest in Lansing. “Yes, they are in the running. They’re looking for offense.”
According to one scouting report, Lansing “hits good, run good; he’s a gamer and could hit 25 home runs in Wrigley Field.”
Still, Martinez is the bigger plum.
“I can get five players for Pedro right now,” Beattie insisted. But he says he won’t play the numbers game. “I’m not looking for five players,” he said. “I’m looking for one player who will be very good.”
There is a substantial problem. Martinez and Lansing are a year away from free agency. Unless they are signed to multiyear contracts, they can walk after the 1998 season.
Ed Lynch, the Cubs’ general manager, denied the likelihood that Lansing is on his way to Chicago:
“I don’t think it’s realistic for us to give up younger players for someone we might have for only one year.”
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Asked if Jeremi Gonzalez, the Cubs’ new pitching star, was on the block and could go in a deal for Lansing, Lynch replied: “Not true.”
Ron Schueler, Lynch’s counterpart with the White Sox, was also in considerable demand for interviews, mostly because the Sox still don’t have a manager.
“I’m hoping they’ll have one by Opening Day,” jested Pat Gillick, the Baltimore GM. Then Gillick asked, “Who is it going to be?”
Who knows? It seems even Schueler doesn’t know. He did acknowledge that his “list,” which two weeks ago he described as “substantial,” had been trimmed to “between five and 10” candidates.
“I’ve made a pretty good dent,” Schueler said. “I am moving slowly purposely. I want to get it right.”
It would have felt good to tell him it wouldn’t make much difference because the new manager, whomever he may be, probably would be gone after two or three years. But it was better to change the subject.
Would the Sox make a bid for Randy Johnson, the Seattle strikeout king. Johnson, according to his agent, is upset and wants to be traded because the Mariners have refused to give him a contract extension. Reports say he wants $11 million a year, Albert Belle money.
“He’s out of my pay scale,” Schueler said. “Besides, I’m not sure he’ll be traded. The Seattle club always has said they’re trying to win, and if they’re trying to win, how can they remove Randy Johnson?”