Changes coming out West

By Gordon Edes, Globe Staff, 10/5/2003

The landscape in the American League West changed dramatically last week because of two developments. Pat Gillick stepped down as general manager of the Seattle Mariners, and Tom Hicks, owner of the Texas Rangers, said he plans to pare payroll from more than $100 million to around $70 million.

Gillick has been one of the giants in the game, winning back-to-back World Series in Toronto and fashioning playoff teams in Baltimore and Seattle.

But at 66, Gillick stepped aside -- all indications are he wasn't pushed -- saying he'd had four cracks at a title with the Mariners and it was time for someone else to get a chance.

Gillick will remain with the Mariners as a consultant, and is expected to have a hand in the naming of his successor. One name that immediately surfaced was that of A's GM Billy Beane, but he insists he is staying put. Many baseball people assume if the Dodgers make a change with Danny Evans, Beane would be their No. 1 target.

Two in-house candidates are Mariners farm director Benny Looper and assistant GM Lee Pelekoudas. Former Seattle pitcher Jim Beattie, one half of Baltimore's two-headed GM apparatus (with Mike Flanagan), is mentioned as another possibility, along with Expos GM Omar Minaya, who has interviewed for the Reds' job.

The Mariners are hoping to have someone in place by the GM meetings in early November.

Gillick has been criticized for not making a big move at midseason that might have taken the Mariners to the World Series, or in the case of this season, allowed them to knock out either the A's or Red Sox from the playoffs.

The M's have nine potential free agents, including designated hitter Edgar Martinez and center fielder Mike Cameron, along with relievers Arthur Rhodes, Shigetoshi Hasegawa, and Armando Benitez, so this could be a much different club than the one Gillick put on the field this season. Ichiro Suzuki also is arbitration-eligible and looking for a long-term deal.

In Texas, meanwhile, Hicks's pledge to cut payroll flies in the face of Alex Rodriguez's assertions that Hicks had assured the superstar shortstop that the club was not going into rebuilding mode and would bid on premium free agents.

Hicks had not yet spoken with A-Rod about the change in direction, but said he was not concerned his shortstop might want out.

"It's business as usual unless he tells me something that he's never told me before," Hicks told reporters last week. "I don't expect him to do that. Alex is very happy here."

Shea it ain't so

According to one National League executive, it's not out of the question the Diamondbacks will either nontender infielder Shea Hillenbrand or try to package him in a trade, perhaps with Junior Spivey and a prospect or two for Milwaukee slugger Richie Sexson. "The D-Backs realized that Hillenbrand is more of an American League player; they weren't real happy with him defensively at either first or third," the executive said. "They have a third baseman at Triple A, Chad Tracy, who hit .314 in Tucson and was the best third baseman in the Pacific Coast League. He's ready to play, Craig Counsell will be back, and Lyle Overbay will be on the club at first base. Shea is arbitration-eligible, so I could see where the D-Backs might not tender him." . . . Ken Griffey, aware of published speculation that the Mariners might want him back with the expectation that free agent Mike Cameron will be headed elsewhere, is making noise that he would be open to the idea . . . One major league executive predicts there will be more nontenders this year than ever before, as teams trim payroll. One of the most notable nontender signings last winter was Theo Epstein's grab of David Ortiz, who signed for a modest $1.25 million and remains under the Sox control for one more year before becoming eligible for free agency. It probably won't cost the Sox more than $3 million to keep him next year, unless they decide to sign him for a couple of years . . . The Sox have flooded the other playoff series with scouts, many of whom are in their first year with the club. The Epstein hirees include Alan Regler, Gary Rajsich, Jerry Dipoto, Murray Cook, and Mark Wasinger . . . Will the Sox be in the running for Kazuhiro Matsui, the hottest prospect coming from Japan this winter? Epstein dispatched top aide Craig Shipley to see him, and Luis Eljaua, the Marlins' director of international scouting, has seen him a number of times. Matsui, a star shortstop in Japan (and no relation to Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui), says he would prefer to remain at short, but one big league executive said both the Sox and Yankees may try to persuade him to move to second. Whether Alfonso Soriano will move from second base to make room for him in New York is another story. So far, he has resisted overtures to move to the outfield . . . Royals GM Allard Baird said last week he would be open to trade offers for center fielder Carlos Beltran, who is in his walk year. Beltran, only 26, hit .307 with 26 home runs, 100 RBIs, 41 stolen bases, and a .389 on-base percentage . . . The Angels have hired Eddie Bane, the former scout for the Dodgers and Indians who had been working as a special assistant to Chuck LaMar in Tampa Bay, as their scouting director.

N.E. connection

There could soon be another general manager with New England roots. The well-respected Wayne Krivsky, the assistant general manager with the Twins, recently interviewed with the Reds for their vacant GM post. Krivsky is a native of Connecticut. Sox assistant GM Mike Port, who is at the end of his contract, interviewed for the Reds' job and deserves consideration in Seattle . . . One American League executive says talk of the Sox trading Manny Ramirez is ludicrous. "He's not going to be traded, not with that contract," the executive said. "What do you think, that the Red Sox are going to pay $12 million or so of his contract so he can play somewhere else? Not a chance." The same executive said it's no lock the Sox will be in the market for a second baseman. The Sox could move AL batting champion Bill Mueller if they decide to target a third baseman instead . . . The Cardinals-Cubs feud continues into October. The Cubs were unhappy about comments Cardinals reliever Steve Kline made on a St. Louis television station last Monday. Kline said he hoped Cubs ace Mark Prior "takes a line drive to the forehead and we never have to see him again." Kline had said he was joking when he made a similar comment to a St. Louis newspaper, but the Cubs weren't amused . . . Mark Grace, who retired after 17 seasons, was mulling an offer to manage a short-season minor league team for the Diamondbacks, with a broadcast job another possibility. Grace would be a natural in the booth. "I want to manage the Arizona Diamondbacks," Grace said after meeting with Diamondback executives. "Whether it's in 20 years, 10 years or however long it is. And if it's not here, somewhere in the bigs." . . . John Smoltz, brilliant as a closer the last two seasons for Atlanta, said he would have interest in becoming a starter again. With Greg Maddux a free agent, the Braves might give it some thought . . . Do you think Rafael Palmeiro is having second thoughts about refusing a trade that would have sent him to the Cubs? "Palmeiro is my friend, but he made a big mistake," Sammy Sosa said last week. "Now, he's home watching us and we're in the playoffs. It was a good opportunity for him. When we heard that . . . one reason why we are here today is because we stayed together. And we're wishing he would be here today, but we made it. He is probably sitting at home saying, `Wow, if I would have taken the chance,' he would be with us today."

Material from personal interviews, wire service reports, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.