Budget-conscious baseball GMs meet at resort

[November 04, 2008]  DANA POINT, Calif. (AP) -- Baseball general managers began an offseason of economic uncertainty when they gathered Monday for their annual meeting -- at the same posh resort Rep. Henry Waxman criticized AIG executives for convening at following the company's government bailout in September.

Walking past a circular lobby area with sculpted plants, intricate stone floors and glass artwork at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, the GMs prepared for feeling each other out about potential trades and meeting with agents touting their free-agent clients. While baseball is coming off a season of record $6.5 billion revenue, some teams are worried the go-go years might be over and still have not set final payroll budgets for next season.

"I know we're sensitive to the softness of the economy and frankly are taking it into account as we do our planning for next season," Arizona Diamondbacks chief executive officer Jeff Moorad said. "We're bullish about next season on the one hand, but we recognize that especially on the corporate partnership side, that there could be some direct impact."

Just five days after the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays for the World Series title, the other 28 GMs were plotting overtaking them to win next year's pennants. They can't start talking money with free agents from other teams until Nov. 14, and the offseason maneuvering is unlikely to pick up speed until the winter meetings are held in Las Vegas from Dec. 8-11.

CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Francisco Rodriguez highlight the available free-agent pitchers, and Manny Ramirez and Mark Teixeira top the free-agent hitters. San Diego pitcher Jake Peavy likely will be shopped by the Padres in the lobbies of the fancy hotel, where a bagel goes for $5.50.

Ramirez, whose $20 million team options were voided when the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired him from Boston on July 31, expects a bull market for his services.

"I want to see who is the highest bidder. Gas is up and so am I," he said last month after the Phillies eliminated the Dodgers from the playoffs.

Perhaps Ramirez didn't notice, but the average price for a regular gallon of gas dropped to $2.41 nationally on Monday, down more than 30 percent from last month, according to auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express.

"We'll have to check the gas market, I guess, before I go and speak with him," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. "I know how the fans feel and how we feel. It's obvious. I mean, what he did for 10 weeks -- regular season and postseason -- was as good as anybody can do. I've been at it long enough to tell you that I'm not going to tell you what my gut feeling is."

Ramirez is represented by Scott Boras, who last year persuaded Colletti to give Andruw Jones a $36.2 million, two-year contract. Jones then hit .158 with three homers and 14 RBIs.

Colletti said the Dodgers haven't made an offer yet to Ramirez and it would be difficult to afford both Ramirez and Sabathia.

"You can't let one player stand in the way of everything else you need to do," he said. "Every player's got their own timeline and their own rhythm to their thought process. So when you have other needs that you need to address, you can't really hold them up waiting for somebody to make a decision, unless it's a very unique situation."

Milwaukee said it made an offer to Sabathia last weekend, hoping to sign him before other clubs can offer megabucks.

"It's in their hands," general manager Doug Melvin said. "He hasn't really had a chance to talk with other teams."

Free-agent contract demands won't slow because of the economy. That could cause negotiations to drag out even longer than usual because budgets may be in flux.

"I think in some places it may very well have an effect," Houston Astros president of baseball operations Tal Smith said. "From the standpoint of free agents, it's something clubs will probably take a look at."

Some high-revenue teams, relatively certain that they will sell close to 100 percent of their tickets, don't have to worry as much.

"I don't have a final number yet, but my boss, Crane Kenney, I think he feels that our payroll will go up slightly," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said, referring to Chicago's chairman. "We're fortunate that it's not going to stay flat or take a reduction, but at the same time you have to be cognizant of what's going on in the world."

[Associated Press; By RONALD BLUM]

AP Sports Writer Chris Jenkins contributed to this report.

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