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Ronald Blum. Associated Press. Posted on Mon, Dec. 23, 2002
in The Miami Herald.
NEW YORK - The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox had top officials in
Nicaragua on Monday, the first day free-agent pitcher Jose Contreras could start
contract talks with major league teams.
Contreras was the top pitcher on Cuba's national team before he defected in
October. He was declared a free agent by the commissioner's office last week
after establishing residency in Nicaragua a week earlier.
Boston sent general manager Theo Epstein and Louie Eljaua, its director of
international scouting.
New York dispatched Gordon Blakeley, the team's vice president of
international and professional scouting, and Carlos Rios, its Latin American
scouting head. In the Contreras talks, the pair are reporting to Mark Newman,
the Yankees' senior vice president of baseball operations, and owner George
Steinbrenner.
Jaime Torres, Contreras' agent, did not return telephone messages seeking
comment.
New York appears to be stockpiling pitchers as it retools its staff. The
Yankees' already have Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, David Wells, Orlando
Hernandez and Jeff Weaver, and are close to re-signing Roger Clemens to a
one-year deal in the $8 million to $10 million range. There seems to be little
urgency in the talks, and both sides appear confident of reaching an agreement
by the Jan. 8 deadline for Clemens to re-sign.
If the Yankees sign Contreras and Clemens, they probably would trade El
Duque. Weaver would then be likely to become a spot starter, taking the role
Ramiro Mendoza had filled in recent years.
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