Hot Stove League: MLB GMs arrive for meetings

[November 07, 2012]  INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) -- After a week without power at his home in Connecticut, the New York Yankees' Brian Cashman arrived at the general managers' meetings ready to do business.

The weather was hot, but the trade market was not.

"Do I have something I'm looking to execute while I'm out here? No," he said Tuesday night. "Whatever agents are here, I'll meet with the agents and then obviously have a chance to engage the 29 clubs. I've been with them a few times already. I think there's certain guys that I've been made aware of, but for the most part I think it will be unfolding quietly."

The annual GM meetings, back in the Coachella Valley for the first time in seven years, start just a week after the World Series and often spark discussions that lead to trades and signings later in the offseason. The winter meetings, where teams send larger delegations from their organizations, are scheduled for Dec. 3-6 in Nashville, Tenn.

While teams feel each other out to try to determine what trades are possible, Cashman repeated he doesn't anticipate inquiries about Alex Rodriguez, who was benched during the playoffs. A-Rod has $114 million and five years left on his contract

"I don't see that happening," Cashman said.

The formal part of the meetings start Wednesday, with mornings devoted to briefings by Major League Baseball and administrative discussions. Expanding instant replay to fair-foul calls down the lines and to traps figures to be an offseason-long discussion along with protective headgear for pitchers. A report is on the agenda for the winter meetings.

Cashman said his power at home was restored Sunday, nearly a week after Superstorm Sandy hit. In contrast to the cool weather back home, the high temperature in the Palm Springs area Tuesday was 93 degrees.

Talk about Hot Stove League.

At least publicly, Cashman was reticent to reveal which agents he planned to talk with because of anti-collusion rules put in place a few years ago after concerns raised by the players' association.

"I'm not allowed to say if I'm going to meet with anybody or talk to anybody or if I don't want to talk to anybody," he said. "I got a whole rundown."

[Associated Press; By RONALD BLUM]

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