Valentin Costs More Each Day

The Boston Red Sox are planning to make infielder John Valentin a new proposal for a contract extension today, according to agent Dick Moss, but he was amused at the suggestion that the team might be close to a deal with the veteran infielder.

“I had a call from Mike Port who left a message saying that (Christmas Eve) will be Dan’s (Duquette) last day of work and they wanted to know where they could fax me a new proposal,” Moss said from his office in Malibu, Calif.

But Moss was surprised to hear that Red Sox CEO John Harrington, in a radio interview aired last night on WBZ, suggested that progress had been made with Valentin.

“We’re very active today and Tuesday in dealing with Val, and it would be great to conclude a deal with Val somewhere here during the holiday period, but it may linger on into January,” Harrington told the Globe’s Will McDonough and his son Sean, the Red Sox TV broadcaster, on their radio show.

Moss said it had been at least a week since he had heard from Port, the Red Sox assistant GM whom Duquette has placed in charge of the Valentin talks.

“I’m not breathlessly awaiting anything,” Moss said. “They don’t understand that the price is going up every day they wait, especially with the new contracts being signed.

“I’m perfectly content to go to salary arbitration.”

Valentin was paid $3.8 million last season. Should he take the Red Sox to arbitration, he can be expected to ask for at least $6 million and probably more. There have been reports that he is seeking a contract extension in the four-year, $28 million range.

Cubs snare Morandini

The Chicago Cubs acquired second baseman Mickey Morandini from the Philadelphia Phillies to replace retiring Ryne Sandberg.

The Phillies get outfielder Doug Glanville in return.

Morandini, 31, batted a career-high .295 with one home run and 39 runs batted in and 16 stolen bases in 150 games.

An All-Star in 1995, Morandini is a career .268 hitter in eight-plus seasons with the Phillies. He’ll replace Sandberg, a 10-time All-Star who retired after the season.

Mariners keep lefty

The Seattle Mariners have signed left-handed reliever Tim Davis to a one-year, $227,500 contract for the 1998 season.

Davis, 27, spent most of last season on the disabled list after major reconstructive surgery on his left elbow in June. He has started throwing as part of his rehabilitation program and is expected to be at full speed for spring training, the Mariners said in a statement.

Lewis lands regular work

Outfielder Darren Lewis vowed after the 1997 season that his first priority would be to find a place where he had an opportunity to play regularly.

In a move that fills a huge gap in their defense, the Red Sox obliged him with a one-year contract and a promise he would find plenty of work.

“It wasn’t the money,” said Lewis, a one-time Gold Glove center fielder for San Francisco (1994). “I actually signed for a lot less to come to Boston. But it was the chance to come to a ballpark every day and have an opportunity to play.”