Cubs talk centers on Garciaparra
Nomar Watch was the talk of Wrigley Field on Thursday as the idea of Boston shortstop Nomar Garciaparra wearing a Chicago Cubs uniform gathered steam.
The rumored three-way deal between the Cubs, Boston and Arizona may be merely talk, but the Cubs continue to show interest in the top available shortstop expected on the market.
General manager Jim Hendry sidestepped questions about Garciaparra before Thursday’s game, saying he’s exploring several options.
“If we have a chance where we think it makes us better, we’ll try to act on it,” Hendry said.
Tom Werner, one of Boston’s owners, told the Boston Globe the Red Sox are happy with Garciaparra and don’t feel any pressure to deal him before the July 31 trading deadline.
“If we made a deal it would only be to strengthen our position for the next two months,” Werner said. “But we don’t want to do something stupid. We don’t want to make a Larry Andersen trade.”
On Aug. 30, 1990, the Red Sox dealt minor-league prospect, and future N.L. MVP, Jeff Bagwell to Houston for over-the-hill reliever Andersen. But Garciaparra can leave Boston as a free agent after the season and he’s unhappy with the club for trying to include him in a deal involving Alex Rodriguez last winter.
Garciaparra is hitting .327 with four home runs and 16 RBIs since returning from Achilles tendinitis June 9.
Prior leaves game with sore elbow
Chicago Cubs right-hander Mark Prior left Thursday night’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers in the second inning with discomfort in his right elbow.
Prior, who missed the first two months of the season with a sore right Achilles’ tendon, was making his eighth start of the season.
Prior was 18-6 last season, including 10-1 during the Cubs’ run to the playoffs. He was 2-2 this season before Thursday night’s start.
Garner hopes for better luck third time around
Phil Garner never came close to the postseason in his first two stints as a major league manager, leading bad teams in Milwaukee and Detroit.
He’s hoping that will change now that he’s with the Houston Astros, replacing Jimy Williams on Wednesday.
“Most people in baseball understood what those situations were, I think,” Garner said Thursday, minutes before conducting the first workout with his new team. “I feel comfortable about the jobs I did with other teams. But no question, having this quality of players is important, too.”
Houston was 44-44 at the All-Star break, not the kind of results expected from a team that was tops in the N.L. Central for the first month and a half of the season.
“You don’t have much time to let it soak in and enjoy it,” Garner said of his hiring. “But if I don’t have any anxiety or pressure in my life, I’m going out to find it.”
Clearing the bases
Arizona Diamondbacks are calling teams to see who — besides the New York Yankees — is ready to trade for pitcher Randy Johnson. The Yankees officially told Arizona general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. on Wednesday that they’d like to have him. … Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sean Casey was activated from the 15-day disabled list Thursday. He strained his right calf while running out a single June 27. Casey was among the N.L.’s top hitters with a .352 average when he was injured. … The Boston Red Sox activated right-hander Ramiro Mendoza from the 15-day disabled list, where he has been since the first week of the season. Mendoza, 32, has brought the Red Sox little since they signed the former Yankees setup man to a two-year, $6.4 million contract. … The Minnesota Twins activated outfielder Shannon Stewart and placed first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz on the 15-day disabled list with a sore left wrist. … Atlanta Braves second baseman Marcus Giles returned to the starting lineup Thursday night for the first time in two months. Giles broke his collarbone in a collision with center fielder Andruw Jones in Milwaukee on May 15.