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With Manuel gone, is Thome ready to waive no-trade?

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Jim Thome

Indians

Red Sox Jul. 12 - The Red Sox continue to have an interest in solving their problems at first base with Jim Thome, and Thome has been asked by the Indians if he would waive his no-trade clause, according to the Boston Herald. All along, Thome has said he likes Cleveland and he wants to stay in Cleveland. But, according to the Herald, that didn't stop him from asking Manny Ramirez, a former teammate in Cleveland, how he likes Boston when the Indians were in the Hub in late June. "I told him it's great," Ramirez says he said, though that's not always the impression New Englanders have of Manny's thoughts about being with the Red Sox. Anyway, this was all before the Tribe fired manager Charlie Manuel, with whom Thome has been close since Manuel took a liking to him back in '89 when Thome was in his first spring with the Indians. Now, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer, with Manuel gone, there's speculation that Thome would be more likely to waive his no-trade. Boston is also reportedly interested in lefthander Chuck Finley of the Indians, which would make for a blockbuster if he and Thome were packaged to the BoSox.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Robbie Alomar

Mets

Dodgers Jul. 12 - The Mets may be very close dropping out of the race, but there's always a newspaper circulation race in New York, which makes it the rumor capital of the earth. There's been talk, with some substance from the Los Angeles end, that the Dodgers are interested in Robbie Alomar. Mets GM Steve Phillips said immediately that a trade is "highly unlikely because he's a great player." However, there's constant talk that Alomar's unhappy in New York, his denials that that's true, and, of course, there's the fact that the Mets aren't going well. For the Dodgers, the future is now and Alomar's a someday Hall of Famer who's been in pennant races before. While Mike Piazza's immune to such speculation, the state of the Mets has made Al Leiter and Edgardo Alfonzo the subjects of rumors since both have contracts that run out at the end of the season. While the Mets have said Leiter is going nowhere and they hope to resume contract talks, they apparently would consider dealing Alfonzo.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Scott Rolen

Phillies

Contenders,

bargain hunters Jul. 12 - There's not a chance in hell, a k a Philadelphia, that Scott Rolen will remain with the Phillies when his contract is up at the end of the season. So, as the July 31st no-waiver trading deadline approaches, the price the Phillies can extract for their disgruntled third baseman only goes down. According to ESPN's Peter Gammons, the leading contenders to give the Phillies a so-so prospect for Rolen are the Cubs and Giants. The Cubs, going nowhere, would apparently want him so they could get the inside track on signing him to a long-term contract. The Giants, on the other hand, would probably be renting a glove and stick for the stretch run.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Denny Neagle

Rockies

Pirates Jul. 12 - Since neither Denny Neagle nor Pirates catcher Jason Kendall has been asked to waive his no-trade contract clause, it would seem that a swap of the two is not imminent. However, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports today that Neagle says he wouldn't rule out accepting such a trade, though he hasn't heard anything from Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd. Apparently, what's holding up the trade is money. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Kendall is in the first year of a six-year contract and has $56 million still to come. Neagle is in the second year of his five-year contract and has $41 million to come. The Rockies apparently have asked that the Pirates even things out by sending along $7 million. While either Neagle or Kendall would have reasons to nix the trade, there are also positives for each. The thought of hitting at Coors Field could pursuade Kendall that it's in his best interest to go west, while Neagle has said he wants to stay in the National League with a contender. The Pirates are definitely not contending, but pitching in the Alleghenys is not like pitching at altitude in the Rockies.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Mike Hampton

Rockies

Rangers,

Cardinals Jul. 9 - Rangers GM John Hart and his special assistant, Dom Chiti, were in Denver Friday night to watch Mike Hampton pitch. They were there because they were interested in the lefthander and after he gave up three runs in six innings and won his second straight they're still interested. However, he's in only the second year of an eight-year $121 million contract and the Rangers would want him to drop a few years from the contract, according to the Dallas Morning News. They'd also want the Rockies to take a few high salaries off their hands to make all the money even out. That could mean the Rockies could get a few players out of a group including Juan Gonzalez, Kenny Rogers, Rusty Greet, Jay Powell and Todd Van Poppel. Hampton, Gonzalez and Rogers all have no-trade clauses in their contracts. The Rangers were interested in Hampton before he signed with the Rockies and they're hoping that after enduring the thin air of Colorado, he'll be more inclined to be willing to pitch in the hot air of Texas. Hampton's major complaint with the Rangers the first time around was not being able to bat in the American League. He could continue to bat with the Cardinals, were they to follow through on what is said to have been "theoretical" discussions with the Rockies about Hampton.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Todd Jones

Rockies

Dodgers,

Diamondbacks Jul. 9 - The Rockies are very interested in unloading Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle, but the Colorado pitcher who has elicited the most interest, according to the Rocky Mountain News, is Todd Jones. Hampton and Neagle are left-handed starters, whereas Jones is a right-handed reliever, but the differences are greater than that. The biggest difference is that Jones has a low salary this season, $1 million, and a $300,000 buyout for '03, while taking on Hampton or Neagle is a serious financial commitment. Two seasons ago, Jones was the AL Fireman of the Year with 42 saves. The Dodgers and D-Backs, separated by 2½ in the NL's West Division race, have both expressed interest in Jones, though the D-Backs recently picked up vet reliever Mike Fetters.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Frank Catalanotto

Rangers

Dodgers Jul. 10 - The Rangers would like to unload several players, but one they've resisted letting go is in demand. The Dodgers would like Frank Catlanotto for his ability to play first, second and third bases, as well as his bat and ability to pinch hit. The Rangers, who've been scouting the middle and lower levels of the Dodgers' minor league system, according to the Orange Country Register, apparently want a package of prospects in return. A left-handed batter, Catalanotto hit .330 last season and was in demand at the winter meetings, but the Rangers demurred. Now, however, Catalanotto doesn't have regular spot, he makes $2.475 million and is arbitration eligible next season, so the Rangers are willing to let go.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Pudge Rodriguez

Rangers

??? Jul. 10 - It's been assumed that Ivan Rodriguez is either traded before the July 31st deadline, walks at the end of the season or signs a long-term extension with the Rangers before '03. Add to those possibilites, according to the Dallas Morning News, aribitration for a one-year contract. Assessing all these options, there's no chance he'll be traded before the July 31st deadline. Who says so? Not Texas GM John Hart. It's I-Rod's agent, Jeff Moorad, who says his client has no intenetion of waiving his 10-and-5 rights. According to Tuesday's Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Moorad says, "Pudge needs to stay where he is and re-prove to everybody that he can continue to catch for a certain number of years." The Rangers have avoided signing Rodriguez to a long-term contract, something he's wanted in the worst way since the other Rodriguez signed his quarter-of-a-billion-dollar contract. From the Rangers' point of view, the worst thing would be they'd be tied into a catcher apparently on the downslide. It appears that's an opinion others have, because even though the Rangers let it be known that I-Rod, not A-Rod, was available, nobody bit. In recent games, after coming back from injury, he's been doing better and his OPS is up to .814 after 39 games.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Orlando Hernandez

Yankees

Expos,

Cardinals Jul. 8 - Having obtained Jeff Weaver, why do the Yankees need Orlando Hernandez? Or, why do they need his moaning and groaning? That's the question some in the Yankees' front office are asking. While there has been plenty of conjecture about the Yanks ridding themselves of El Duque, the Newark Star-Ledger today reports that the Bronx Bombers are shopping him and that they've been in contact with "at least three teams" about the righthander. One of those teams is the Expos, who will become more seriously interested if their trade for Cliff Floyd and righthander Ryan Dempster doesn't go through. The Cardinals have also shown interest, but the Yankees, who would like to send Hernandez to the National League, do not want to send him to a team that could face them in the World Series. Thus, the Cards haven't gotten very far. Hernandez is 5-2 with a 2.89 ERA, a considerable improvement over last season's 4-7 and 4.85 ERA, but he still could end up being the Yankees' sixth starter.

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