Florida Looking To Deal Brown To San Diego
Could Kevin Brown be the next member of the Florida Marlins to be traded?
Several baseball sources said Friday that the Marlins were discussing sending Brown to the San Diego Padres.
Florida told the Padres it would make the trade in exchange for pitcher Rafael Medina, obtained by San Diego earlier this year from the New York Yankees in the Hideki Irabu deal, and Double-A pitcher Matt Clement, the Padres’ organizational pitcher of the year.
San Diego rejected that proposal and countered with a deal in which the Padres would give up Medina and one or more players from a list they would provide to the Marlins.
Florida was also thought to be talking with other teams about Brown. The right-hander, who will be 33 next season, was 16-8 with a 2.69 ERA in 33 starts this year with 205 strikeouts in 237-1/3 innings. He will make $4.8 million next season, then become eligible for free agency.
Since the end of the World Series, Florida has traded outfielder Moises Alou to Houston, closer Robb Nen to San Francisco, outfielder Devon White to Arizona and first baseman Jeff Conine to Kansas City. The Marlins also would like to trade outfielder Gary Sheffield, infielder Bobby Bonilla and pitcher Dennis Cook.
Men try to sell stolen rings to Ted Williams’ son
Three men accused of trying to sell championship rings once owned by Red Sox great Ted Williams back to the slugger’s son were under arrest Friday after a police sting operation.
The rings, which Williams had given to his son, John Henry Williams, were offered to the younger Williams for $90,000.
The arrests were made Thursday night when the younger Williams and an undercover FBI agent met with two of the accused men for the exchange of the rings and money.
Daniel P. Dunn, Gary Raso and Philip Castinetti were charged in federal court with selling two championship rings that they knew had been stolen from John Henry Williams.
Ex-Dodgers pitcher Lombardi dies
Vic Lombardi, who started two games in the 1947 World Series for the Brooklyn Dodgers, died following heart surgery Wednesday. He was 75.
He died in Fresno, Calif.
Lombardi was a starting pitcher for the Dodgers for three seasons. He started two games in the 1947 World Series against the New York Yankees, losing one and getting a no-decision in the other.
Signings
Free-agent outfielder Willie McGee and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a $1.4 million, one-year contract, a raise of $100,000. McGee, a 39-year-old fan favorite, hit .300 last season… . Right-hander Scott Kamieniecki was re-signed by the Baltimore Orioles to a $6.1 million, two-year contract… . Rafael Belliard agreed to a minor-league contract with the Atlanta Braves. Belliard, a 36-year-old reserve infielder, hit .211 with one homer and three RBIs in 72 Braves games last season.