Dusty appears ready to talk turkey with Cubs
BY MIKE KILEY
STAFF REPORTER
Chicago Sun-Times
November 5, 2002
suntimes.com
Dusty Baker sent Cubs general manager Jim Hendry a clear signal Monday: He's ready to talk contract beginning Thursday.
Baker isn't rushing into re-signing with the San Francisco Giants before their exclusive 10-day negotiating period ends Wednesday. While it was believed the Giants had started discussing terms with Baker's agent, Jeff Moorad, that apparently isn't the case. The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting today that the Giants and Moorad haven't negotiated yet.
Couple that with Baker's intriguing statements Monday morning about being the next Cubs manager, and it has become increasingly transparent that he has enormous interest in interviewing with Hendry later this week.
Before leaving Indianapolis, where he attended the Colts-Titans game Sunday, Baker sat down with local CBS affiliate WISH-TV and made his most interesting overtures yet about the Cubs' vacancy.
"The thing that's interesting about Chicago is they are looking for a winner, someone who can win,'' Baker said. "Everybody knows it's a great challenge because they haven't had much success.
"If that does happen, whoever makes that happen is going to be the mighty man in Chicago.''
While some might contend Baker is using the Cubs as a ploy to drive up the Giants' price, that doesn't appear as likely as the possibility he has his heart set on meeting the challenge of managing the Cubs. He continues to drop enough hints to support that.
Hendry is in Arizona, where the Cubs begin organizational meetings Wednesday, and is staying mum. But with Baker returning to California on Monday, it's a short flight for either Hendry or Baker to meet this week.
While the Cubs already have erased free-agent pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine from their offseason plans, deeming them too costly, sources said they want a manager in place before they decide whether to pursue Jeff Kent or David Bell at third base.
Because Baker managed second baseman Kent--who might be able to make the switch to third--and third baseman Bell with the Giants last season, he would be the perfect guy to ask.
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Giants' GM wants Baker
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Cubs will wait for sign from Baker
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