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Vaughn switches agents
By Peter Gammons
Special to ESPN.com
DIAMOND NOTES: Oct. 29
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Angels first baseman Mo Vaughn has switched agents to Jeff Moorad. Needless to say, when Moorad had breakfast with Red Sox GM Dan Duquette recently, Vaughn's name came up, although Moorad and Duquette were discussing ways to ease Manny Ramirez's experience in Boston. Mo may head off to Tempe, Ariz., to work with Nomar Garciaparra and many others with trainer Mark Verstagen, and Moorad will meet with the Angels this week concerning Vaughn. "When Mo was there, everyone got along," says former Red Sox outfielder Midre Cummings, now in the World Series as a member of the Diamondbacks. "He used to say, 'If there's a problem, let the media come to me. I'll take the heat.' But when he left, it wasn't the same."
Some feel that former Indians GM John Hart may not have as much interest in the Rangers' general-manager job as some originally thought, but team owner Tom Hicks is working on him. Marlins GM Dave Dombrowski has interviewed, but A's people think scouting director Grady Fuson has a better shot at getting the job than some people originally thought. Hart, former Rangers GM Doug Melvin and Dombrowski are among those who have interviewed in Toronto, and Oakland assistant GM Paul DePodesta is interviewing Tuesday. If Pat Gillick doesn't want the job, the Blue Jays love Hart, but that isn't likely to happen.
Cummings, who can flat-out hit, would love to get a platoon DH job somewhere. One Diamondbacks' player who will get a chance to play regularly as an upcoming free agent is outfielder Danny Bautista. "Give him 400-450 at-bats and he's going to put up good numbers now," says Arizona bench coach Bob Melvin. "Plus, he's a tremendous person." Former Arizona manager Buck Showalter has long said that Bautista is one of the best persons he's ever managed, not to mention one of the best throwing outfielders. What's a good projection for him? Some around the club feel a .280 batting and 25 to 30 HRs with 450 at-bats.
Sean Burroughs' shoulder problems kept him from working at second base in the Arizona Fall League (AFL), so the Padres' plan is to try again to get Phil Nevin signed (to play first base), with Ryan Klesko in right field and a Ray Lankford/Bubba Trammell platoon in left field. Mark Kotsay is the center fielder.
Everything now is speculation on the labor front. There are ownership folks with a big-market club who insist that the collective bargaining agreement will be rolled over for a year, but another owner says "there are only three votes to roll over. We think this is the time to get something done."
Teams scouring those minor-league free-agent lists looking for the next Miguel Batista find the highest salary to be Boston's Korean left-hander Sang-Hoon Lee, who came with a $5 million contract and the promise to former manager Jimy Williams that he would be the closer and then flopped. "Funny thing," says his former manager, Gary Jones, "when I made him the closer his last few outings, he threw a lot harder -- 92, 93." Another of Boston's international bonus boys, Cuban first baseman Juan Diaz, never showed up in the AFL. Diaz was suspended during the summer after a scrap with a trainer, often refused to ride the bike in an attempt to get down from his spring training weight of 290 and threw away a chance to get to Boston, where the Sox were waiting for him to come up and give them some power. "It was a shame," says Jones. "It was all there in front of him."
Lots of general managers think that Jason Giambi's destination is St. Louis, where he could take the money allotted to Mark McGwire, and assume his mantle. ... The Giants are reportedly marketing Shawn Estes and John Vander Wal, as they must pare payroll if they are going to bring back Barry Bonds. ... The Indians will know by Monday if they'll be able to re-sign closer Bob Wickman and keep him off the free-agent market. ... Among those available in the Colorado payroll paring are Jeff Cirillo, Gabe White and Denny Neagle.
Yes, Mike Morgan says he wants to "pitch until I'm 50 and be the next Satchel Paige. I've got a palm ball I haven't yet brought out, a split that goes either way, have never had arm troubles and want to pitch forever."
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