December 6, 2004
Walton’s Wanderings
By Brian Walton
McRae New Hitting Coach
The Post-Dispatch reports that former Kansas City Royals and Tampa Bay Devil Rays manager Hal McRae will be named Cardinals hitting coach on Monday. McRae, 59, has also been a hitting coach with Montreal, Cincinnati and Philadelphia. Other candidates were Tommy Gregg, Steve Balboni, Gene Tenace, Will Clark and Mark McGwire. The latter two were not interested.
Renteria Update
The Sun-Times repeated a previous rumor that while the Cubs would like Edgar Renteria, they will likely re-sign Nomar Garciaparra to a one-year deal instead. The Post-Dispatch reports that the Cardinals presented a revised offer to Renteria’s agent for more than $32 million for four years, heavily backloaded. However, they have not received a reply.
Womack Update
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that while incumbent Todd Walker has a deal on the table, the Cubs are still interested in Tony Womack. The Post-Dispatch believes that the Cardinals are most likely to offer Womack arbitration of all the Cardinals’ free agents.
Cards Budget over $100 Million
Not really. That is just what Chris De Luca of the Sun-Times said. Guess he’s trying to shame the Tribune Company to spend more on their Cubbies. Either that or he’s badly misinformed.
Unit Deal “On Life Support”
Says Walt Jocketty in the Post-Dispatch.
A Big Week Coming
The Owners Meetings start Friday, traditionally the start of the trading season. Remember that the J.D. Drew trade was announced last December 13. Speaking of…
Orioles Down on Drew
The Baltimore Sun reports that the Orioles turned down a proposed trade with the Cardinals for outfielder J.D. Drew in 2003. The reason was a combination of injury concerns and his score in psychological testing. No word on who the Cardinals were after, but my money is on a second baseman. It’s not too late, Walt.
Former Redbird Batterymates Face Off
Catcher Alberto Castillo singled off lefty Donovan Osborne leading off the seventh inning for the Aguilas Cibaeñas vs. the Escogido Lions on Sunday. The two were teammates on the 1999 Cardinals. At 35 years of age, free agent Osborne must still really like to play the game. He pitched a scoreless inning, turning the ball over to Diamondbacks closer Greg Aquino. I tuned into the game hoping to see Hector Luna play for the Aguilas, but former Royals and Devil Rays’ shortstop Felix Martinez got the start instead. No sighting of Julian Tavarez yet.
Hutch Comes Up Big
Former Cardinal Chad Hutchinson (2001) threw three touchdown passes in his first start for the Chicago Bears of the NFL in their upset victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Cheap Backup Catcher?
The Colorado Rockies want to rid themselves of catcher Charles Johnson so badly that they will reportedly pay $8.25 million of his $9 million salary. Complicating matters is the $1 million bonus due if CJ is traded. But, still, isn’t he worth $1.75 million?
Rockies Interested in Mabry
According to the Denver Post, after apparently losing out on outfielder David Dellucci, the Rockies have “turned their attention” to John Mabry. “I have gotten to know (Mabry) over the years basically from talking to him about wearing us out," said Rockies manager Clint Hurdle of Mabry, the first player to hit for the cycle at Coors Field in 1996.
MLB Minimum Salary to Increase
Starting next season, the lowest amount any player can make is going up to $312,000. It had been $300,000 the past few seasons. It remains to be seen if the Cardinals have any players inexperienced enough to make that little, however.
