Oh, So Many Problems Remain, But So Little Time To Solve Them

It seems like only yesterday that the Florida Marlins were celebrating their first World Series championship and - at the same time - compiling a list of veteran players and their forwarding addresses.

Since then, baseball has stocked two new franchises and ushered in the era of the $75 million pitcher, but there still is much to be done and precious little time to do it before the 30 clubs open spring training in mid-February.

Dozens of free agents remain unsigned, and other players are preparing their cases for salary arbitration. There are two franchises getting ready to change hands and at least one more that is thinking of blowing town. And there are only four weeks to go before they break out the bats and balls again.

So, here’s a thumbnail look at the mountain of unfinished business that faces baseball as it moves toward the 1998 season:

Commissioner search drags

Major League Baseball’s executive search committee was expected to make a presentation to the full ownership this month at the quarterly owners meeting, but that meeting was recently postponed by acting Commissioner Bud Selig.

If that sounds like the work of an entrenched incumbent trying to hold onto his job, don’t jump to conclusions. Selig continues to insist he doesn’t want to be the permanent commissioner, but there is an influential ownership faction that wants him to remain in place indefinitely.

The issue will come up again during the next scheduled meeting in mid-March, but don’t hold your breath. At the rate the search is proceeding, Selig will still be around to usher in the millennium.

Sale of the century

The postponement of the January ownership meeting also figures to delay approval of the $350-million sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers to Fox Sports, which may be no accident.

Speculation persists that there are owners working behind the scenes to undermine the deal, which would put one of baseball’s most storied franchises under the control of media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Baseball owners should be bowing at Murdoch’s feet. His offer no doubt will inflate the value of every other medium- and large-revenue team.

After all, the Texas Rangers’ franchise was tentatively sold last week for $250 million to Tom Hicks. It was just a few years ago that Orioles Owner Peter Angelos was considered foolish for bidding up the price of the Baltimore franchise to $173 million. Now that looks like a smooth financial move.

Blockbuster in the making

The Seattle Mariners stunned their fans with the November revelation that they were considering trade proposals for ace Randy Johnson. Though a rumored deal that would have sent Johnson to the New York Yankees for left-hander Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera never materialized, the Mariners apparently are serious about moving the Big Unit before he enters the final year of his contract.

The same kind of rumors circulated last year about Cleveland Indians star Kenny Lofton, who eventually was involved in a blockbuster spring deal with the Atlanta Braves. The Mariners have made it clear that they expect to get a premier starting pitcher in return, but the price figures to fall as they get closer to the July 31 deadline for trading players without waivers.

Seattle apparently has abandoned hope of re-signing Johnson, whose market value had to jump significantly when the Boston Red Sox signed Pedro Martinez to a six-year, $75 million contract.

Arbitration alert

The proliferation of eight-figure salaries show an arbitrator that his 51-24 record is far better than the 44-28 mark that Martinez compiled over the same period. He should set a record for players in his service class.

Marlins meltdown

The downsizing Marlins have moved most of the high-priced players from last year’s title team, but they still have outfielder Gary Sheffield, third baseman/outfielder Bobby Bonilla and pitcher Al Leiter available for spring deals.

Twin Cities turbulence

The Minnesota Twins are set to be sold to North Carolina businessman Don Beaver if local authorities don’t commit soon to a new baseball-only stadium. It looks as if there isn’t enough public support to get the project under way, which could put the Twins in the unhappy position of playing as a lame duck in the Metrodome this year.

If the situation unravels to that point, it could get ugly. Local officials probably will go to court to prove that Major League Baseball created the poor economic conditions that the Twins will cite to trigger an escape clause in their Metrodome lease.

Hart transplants

Indians General Manager John Hart pulled off the coup of the off-season when he brought back the popular Lofton and used displaced center fielder Marquis Grissom to acquire pitchers Ben McDonald and Steve Karsay, and he always seems to have something simmering. He recently signed second baseman Carlos Garcia to shore up the club’s defense and still could pull off a deal for another front-line pitcher. Never bet against him.

Reds go international

The Cincinnati Reds are the latest team to step up the search for international talent. They recently signed Japanese high school star Junichi Iwasaki, a left-handed pitcher, and will get their first look at him after he graduates in March.

Last month, the Reds signed six Hispanic players in an attempt to enhance their small presence in the Caribbean and Mexico.