Valentin Article

[DBAHO]

Once again another article from da trib,

Jose Valentin's agent resisted the urge to call the White Sox Thursday afternoon to inquire about the fate of his client, which he thought might be tied to the Alex Rodriguez-for-Manny Ramirez deal.

 

"There's nothing they can tell me," David Elston said. "We're all just waiting."

 

The waiting game ended Thursday at 4:20 p.m. when baseball Commissioner Bud Selig announced the Rangers and Red Sox had to cease their negotiations on the proposed trade.

 

Or did they?

 

Although two baseball sources told the Associated Press talks continued after the deadline, Selig's office denied that.

 

Red Sox President Larry Lucchino seemed to put the matter to rest shortly thereafter when he called the trade talks "dead" and blamed baseball's union for rejecting a proposed restructuring of Rodriguez's contract.

 

"The players' association's intransigence and the arbitrary nature of its action are responsible for the deal's demise," Lucchino said.

 

But Rangers general manager John Hart took a different tack, saying the deal was still alive. Maybe.

 

"There is a likelihood the deal is dead," he said. "But at the same time, we haven't issued a statement that it's completely dead."

 

Texas is so eager to trade the game's highest-paid player for the second-highest, Hart said Rangers owner Tom Hicks probably would talk to Red Sox officials to try to work out a deal.

 

Unless Boston agrees to take the remaining seven years and $179 million in exchange for what's left on Ramirez's deal ($97.5 million over five years), the seven-time All-Stars appear destined to remain with their current clubs.

 

And that means the rumored deal that would have sent Nomar Garciaparra and Scott Williamson to the White Sox for Magglio Ordonez and either Jon Rauch or Dan Wright is off the radar screen.

 

Agent Scott Boras said Rodriguez proposed that his overall contract be reduced $12 million, but that he be given better marketing and logo use rights.

 

But, Boras said, the Red Sox estimated their proposal would cost Rodriguez $28 million, and the players' union objected.

 

"We're going to be in communication with the Rangers as to their discussions with the Red Sox," Boras said. "Every indication we had was that the parties would continue to talk."

 

Boras told the Boston Globe Thursday night that he was still talking with union officials and Hicks about a possible compromise solution that would allow the deal. The Globe was reporting that a deal still could be reached Friday.

 

Even if the A-Rod-for-Manny deal had gone through Thursday, sources said there were still several obstacles blocking a Garciaparra-for-Ordonez trade. Now all that appears moot.

 

But while Valentin is slated to return as the Sox's everyday shortstop, Ordonez's near future remains unsettled.

 

The Dodgers still covet Ordonez and want a big right-handed bat for their lineup.

 

The fact Garciaparra might not be available any more could push Dodgers general manager Dan Evans to meet the Sox's asking price, believed to be lefty Odalis Perez, reliever Guillermo Mota and at least one top prospect, likely pitchers Edwin Jackson or Greg Miller.

 

Or perhaps Sox general manager Ken Williams can convince Evans to pursue a smaller-scale deal for either Frank Thomas or Paul Konerko.

 

The Sox also still could acquire Williamson, a hard-throwing reliever whom Boston is looking to move after signing closer Keith Foulke.

 

As for Rodriguez, he and Boston reached an agreement on a restructured contract Wednesday, only to have union official Gene Orza reject it because it lowered the overall value of the $252 million deal.

 

The union apparently dug in so other players wouldn't be pressured to alter their contracts in the future to play for a winning team.

 

"I recognize the principle involved," Rodriguez said Wednesday in a statement, "and fully support the need to protect the interests of fellow players."

[BrandoFan]

"There is a likelihood the deal is dead," he said. "But at the same time, we haven't issued a statement that it's completely dead."

 

Way to live up to your last name there, uncle Tom. Impeccable logic.