GM meetings end; Johnson will be hot commodity
Joe Garagiola Jr. packed up, set to head home and ready to deal with Randy Johnson. The Arizona general manager figures to be real busy in the near future.
He’s hardly alone. After five days of discussion, debate and a final South Beach birthday bash, the GM meetings broke up. Now the real business begins – starting Friday, teams could talk money with any free agent.
The New York Yankees plan to be prime players in the winter markets. They missed out on getting Johnson last summer, and may take another run at the Arizona ace.
Johnson and the Diamondbacks aren’t exactly a great match anymore. The 2001 World Series co-MVP with Curt Schilling, the Big Unit spent this year with a team that lost 111 games. He’s due $16 million next year, and a trade could help Arizona cut its payroll.
Former Spokane Indians’ reliever Doug Brocail became the first of the 207 free agents to sign, returning to the Texas Rangers for a $1 million, one-year deal. And among players eligible for arbitration, Cincinnati catcher Jason LaRue agreed to a $3 million, one-year contract.
Japan wins third straight
San Diego Padres reliever Akinori Otsuka gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Japanese All-Stars rallied for a 3-2 victory in Nagoya, Japan, their third straight win over the touring major leaguers. The major league stars won the first four games of the eight-game series before the Japanese came back. The series ends Sunday in Tokyo.
Expos hire ticket agency
The Expos cleared another logistical hurdle in their move to Washington, announcing an agreement with Ticketmaster to handle ticket sales.
The team will start accepting season ticket deposits next Thursday, although fans can get a head start by registering their interest through the team’s Web site. Seating and pricing structures for RFK Stadium have yet to be set, but average ticket prices are expected to range from $24 to $26, with reserved seats starting as low as $7.
Cop identified who killed Sox fan
The officer who fired a pepper-spray pellet that killed a woman in a raucous crowd of Red Sox fans was aiming at another fan but missed, police said Friday.
Police on Friday also identified the shooter, Officer Rochefort Milien.
In an update of its investigation into the death of Victoria Snelgrove, police said Milien fired his pepper-spray pellet gun at a fan during an Oct. 21 disturbance, but missed. The shot hit Snelgrove in the eye, fatally injuring her.
Berkman has surgery
Houston Astros outfielder Lance Berkman had surgery on his injured right knee, with recovery time expected to take five to six months.