Added:<<.. Sox also passed on pitchers Steve Avery, Butch Henry, and Pete Schourek and second baseman Mark Lemke. ..>> Chucasays, he was -IS GOOD!
(3 in a row, like I am still going to la-la land!):
Chucabonavez-vousunelettrepournousaujourd'hui?
boston.com
boston.com and search for the Boston Globe or Boston Herald Sports Section.
Dam, it is Lemke I saw in Pawtucket, just like Phoenix said to Peoria, pawtuket, you can do better!
boston.com
Red Sox giving up on Neahring
With no contract or arbitration, veteran
infielder will go elsewhere
By Gordon Edes, Globe Staff, 12/08/98
He was a member of the Red Sox organization longer than Mo
Vaughn and signed his first Sox contract 17 days before John
Valentin signed his.
He has worn a Red Sox uniform longer than any player on the
current roster, electing to stay here two winters ago for less
money when he could have gone to the World Series with the
Cleveland Indians.
He was a fan favorite, on and off the field, and when healthy, a
productive player, though most of his working parts broke down
at one time or another.
But yesterday, on a procedural technicality, Tim Naehring's
decade-long career with the Red Sox essentially came to an
end. Because he was a free agent, the Sox either had to sign
him to a new deal or offer him salary arbitration by midnight
last night; otherwise, they would lose the right to re-sign him
until May 1.
The Sox did not take either step, and last night Naehring's
agent, Greg Clifton, said the infielder, who has not played since
undergoing reconstructive surgery on his throwing elbow 17
months ago, will not wait until May for the Sox.
''Unfortunately, we have never heard from the Red Sox - we
have had no dialogue on a contract for Tim Naehring,'' said
Clifton, though he acknowledged the Sox might have bypassed
the agent to contact the player. ''As of midnight, Tim will no
longer be a member of the Red Sox.''
The Sox did not offer arbitration to any of their six free agents,
including 44-year-old reliever Dennis Eckersley, who last month
had said he was leaning toward a return for another season,
but only with Boston. The Sox also passed on pitchers Steve
Avery, Butch Henry, and Pete Schourek and second baseman
Mark Lemke.
It was no surprise that the Sox did not offer arbitration to Avery,
who was paid $3.9 million last season, or Lemke, whose
career was placed in jeopardy after he sustained another in a
series of concussions last May in a collision with White Sox
catcher Chad Kreuter.
Henry, who missed almost all of last season after tearing the
anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, apparently had better
offers elsewhere. The Red Sox were attempting to re-sign
Schourek last night, but according to spokesman Kevin Shea,
the team was not hopeful of reaching an agreement.
The Sox lost short-time reliever Dario Veras, who was claimed
on waivers by the Kansas City Royals. Veras, 25, made seven
appearances for Boston after being acquired from the San
Diego Padres in the Jim Leyritz trade.
Yesterday Naehring, who turns 32 Feb. 1, received a one-year,
nonguaranteed major league contract offer from the Cincinnati
Reds, his hometown team. According to Clifton, the deal had a
low base salary but was loaded with incentives. And in the
event Naehring is unable to resume playing because of his
injury, Clifton said, the Reds have offered him a position in their
front office if he elects to retire. The Cardinals also have
expressed strong interest, Clifton said.
It's uncertain whether Naehring, who is working out and
throwing under a program set up by Alabama orthopedist Dr.
James Andrews, will be able to play again. He's a long shot at
best to return regularly to third base, which is where he was
playing when he tore ligaments in his right elbow while making
a throw from foul territory in Toronto. His best chance to return
may be as a utility infielder.
Naehring broke in at shortstop in 1991, the first Sox rookie to
open the season at short since Rico Petrocelli in 1965. He
later moved to second and became the team's regular third
baseman in 1997 when Nomar Garciaparra took over at short
and Valentin moved to second. He made just three errors in 87
games at third before his injury.
Naehring's best year with the Sox was 1995, when he played a
career-best 126 games, hitting .307 with 10 homers and 57
RBIs. He also hit an 11th-inning home run that should have
won the first divisional playoff game against Cleveland.
But he was always dogged by injuries. He was on the disabled
list seven times in his eight major league seasons with back,
wrist, shoulder, ankle, and hamstring injuries in addition to his
elbow problems.
Meanwhile, Tim Belcher, a free agent pitcher who has drawn
interest from the Red Sox, was not offered salary arbitration by
the Royals, meaning the Sox would not have to surrender any
draft choices as compensation if they elect to sign him.
Belcher is believed to be seeking a three-year deal in the
neighborhood of $16 million and has also received inquiries
from the Seattle Mariners. The 37-year-old righthander was
14-14 last season for the Royals.
Another name has surfaced as a potential replacement for
Vaughn at first base. Seth Levinson, agent for free agent Gregg
Jefferies, has called the Sox, telling them of his client's desire
to play for them.
''Gregg Jefferies has serious interest in playing for the Red
Sox,'' said Levinson of the switch-hitting Jefferies, who batted
.301 in 144 games last season for the Phillies and Angels.
Jefferies played left field almost exclusively last season but
played first base for parts of four seasons with the Cardinals
and Phillies.
Jefferies, 31, is a two-time former National League All-Star who
has hit .285 or better in six of the last seven seasons, four
times over .300 (the exception being 1997, when he batted
.256). He is not a power hitter - he had just nine home runs in
555 at-bats last season - but could be a potent No. 2 hitter
behind Jose Offerman if the Sox wanted to drop Valentin lower
in the order.
At best, Jefferies, like Will Clark, would represent a short-term
answer for the Sox, who are expected to pursue trade
possibilities at baseball's winter meetings, which begin Friday
in Nashville.
This story ran on page E01 of the Boston Globe on 12/08/98.
© Copyright 1998 Globe Newspaper Company.
So-so...his french Name still has ...an M in it. ChucaM |
