Monday, December 19, 2005
Indians' Hot Stove On Simmer
Christmas is here, and unless Santa Claus manages to fit a right-handed bat through the chimney at 2401 Ontario Street, Indians fans might have to deal with a little holiday heartbreak.
On Sunday, Nomar Garciaparra signed the L.A. Dodgers one year offer, declining three others from the Indians, Astros, and Yankees. He's the latest free agent to pass on playing in Cleveland. Brian Giles and Trevor Hoffman both opted to stay put in San Diego.
What, is it the weather? Forget I asked.
The Nomar situation was a tricky one. He decided to settle with L.A., where he and wife Mia Hamm already have a home. It sure didn't hurt that the Dodgers have also become a shelter for Red Sox refugees (see: Derek Lowe, Bill Mueller, and Grady "Pedro or Bust" Little).
I was told by sources that he was less than thrilled with all four of his offers, which were likely one year deals worth 6 to 7 million dollars to play first base or the outfield. Not quite the payday that was once coveted by the All-Star shortstop. But then, he's no longer that player.
In hindsight, Nomar should have signed Boston's multimillion dollar offer back in 2004, instead of throwing it back in the team's face. Maybe he's still haunted by that. And maybe that drives him to use 2006 as his platform for contract nirvana. But the chances are just as good that he lands himself on the disabled list for a third straight season.
I doubt Mark Shapiro and Eric Wedge will sweat a "no thanks" from Nomar. There's still a few items on the shelves of the free agent store that they can rummage through--on the clearance rack, of course.
On Sunday, Nomar Garciaparra signed the L.A. Dodgers one year offer, declining three others from the Indians, Astros, and Yankees. He's the latest free agent to pass on playing in Cleveland. Brian Giles and Trevor Hoffman both opted to stay put in San Diego.
What, is it the weather? Forget I asked.
The Nomar situation was a tricky one. He decided to settle with L.A., where he and wife Mia Hamm already have a home. It sure didn't hurt that the Dodgers have also become a shelter for Red Sox refugees (see: Derek Lowe, Bill Mueller, and Grady "Pedro or Bust" Little).
I was told by sources that he was less than thrilled with all four of his offers, which were likely one year deals worth 6 to 7 million dollars to play first base or the outfield. Not quite the payday that was once coveted by the All-Star shortstop. But then, he's no longer that player.
In hindsight, Nomar should have signed Boston's multimillion dollar offer back in 2004, instead of throwing it back in the team's face. Maybe he's still haunted by that. And maybe that drives him to use 2006 as his platform for contract nirvana. But the chances are just as good that he lands himself on the disabled list for a third straight season.
I doubt Mark Shapiro and Eric Wedge will sweat a "no thanks" from Nomar. There's still a few items on the shelves of the free agent store that they can rummage through--on the clearance rack, of course.
Posted at 11:06 AM
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