Tribe Opens Its Coffers To Offer Free-Agent Belle $8.4 Million Per Season

The Cleveland Indians have made a rich offer to free-agent slugger Albert Belle. If they want to keep him, it looks like they will have to make an even richer one.

“We’re in the game. I guess that’s the safest way to put it,” Cleveland general manager John Hart said. “We’re not close, but I think we’ve sent the message to Albert that we want him.”

According to Ohio reports, the Indians have offered Belle $8.5 million a year for four or five years, whichever he prefers. Belle’s agent, Arn Tellem, denied the report but said Belle probably will visit the Florida Marlins next week, possibly Monday.

Friday is the first day free agents can discuss money with other teams.

Belle was the top player in baseball the last two seasons, according to statistical rankings by the Elias Sports Bureau. In 1995, he became the first player to hit 50 homers and 50 doubles in a season. Last season, Belle hit .311 with 48 homers and 148 RBIs.

From 1991-96, Belle led the majors with 234 homers. Barry Bonds was second with 217.

Belle’s production has never been a problem. His behavior has. Belle has been suspended five times in his six-year big league career for various infractions.

Chances for a baseball labor deal withered Tuesday when acting commissioner Bud Selig failed to contact union head Donald Fehr.

After their meeting Monday, Selig said he wanted to think about his position overnight, and Fehr told him to call before midday Tuesday, when he planned to leave the office for the day. Selig didn’t call until after Fehr left his office.

The pitcher’s mound would be raised and the use of graphite composite bats in the minor leagues would become more widespread under rules proposed at the general managers’ meetings.

General managers will ask the playing rules committee to consider raising the pitchers’ mound to 13 inches from its present height of 10 inches. Also under consideration is the expanded use of graphite-composite bats in the minor leagues. Using the bats, which are far more difficult to break, is a cost-control issue. Graphite bats are used only in short-season rookie leagues.

Travis Lee, who played first base for San Diego State and the U.S. Olympic baseball team this year, won the 1996 Golden Spikes Award, given annually to the nation’s top amateur player. Lee led the U.S. team in virtually every offensive category this summer, and was equally proficient defensively, making just two errors in 350 chances.