Maggs: 'Why not the Cubs?'

[SSHITMEN]

:puke ANAHEIM -- Magglio Ordonez insisted Thursday he never wanted to leave the White Sox and feels as though the organization wanted him out.

 

Now the former Sox star is hoping for a call from the Cubs, who are searching for a replacement for left fielder Moises Alou.

 

"Why not the Cubs?" Ordonez said from his Miami home. "I think it would be a good place for me. They have great fans. They're sold out every day. They have great pitching and they have a good chance to win it all. All I want to do is win. Winning is my No. 1 priority."

Ordonez, who turns 31 in January, said he's looking to resume his career with a playoff-caliber team and show the Sox they have made a huge mistake in letting him get away. The New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles are reportedly the teams most interested in Ordonez, while Detroit may enter the picture as a darkhorse candidate.

 

Though Ordonez didn't give a preference, his ties with Chicago and the Cubs success under Dusty Baker the last two years makes it an attractive destination for him. While he said he wanted to remain on the South Side, Ordonez claimed the Sox never made him feel like they wanted him to stick around.

 

"It's the team I've been playing on for the last eight years," Ordonez said. "All my friends are there. I love the fans. I love the city.

 

"I wanted to come back, but they never made me feel comfortable that they wanted me. They never said, 'We want you here. We want you to be our franchise player.' I was almost traded to Boston (in last winter's aborted deal for Nomar Garciaparra). How could I feel comfortable they really wanted me after that happened?"

 

The Sox contend Ordonez could have stayed if he had accepted a market-rate, long-term deal with some deferred money. No matter who is right or wrong, Ordonez is officially history and the Sox replaced him Thursday with former Oakland outfielder Jermaine Dye, who signed a two-year, $10.15 million deal.

 

Currently rehabbing the left knee that forced him to miss most of the 2004 season, Ordonez realizes the uncertainty over the injury probably spoiled his opportunity to cash in big with a sizeable, multi-year contract at this weekend's annual winter meetings in Anaheim. He had planned to hold an open workout for teams here on Friday, but decided to cancel that to avoid a media frenzy.

 

Ordonez said he will work out for any interested team on an individual basis to prove his knee is sound.

 

"I'll go anywhere and work out to show them I'm fine," he said.

 

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said he would talk to agent Scott Boras about all his free agent outfield clients, who include Carlos Beltran, J.D. Drew and Ordonez. The Cubs can't get into an extended bidding war for the former Sox outfielder unless they are unable to shed Sosa's $17 million salary, and would prefer a left-handed or switch-hitting outfielder to replace Alou because they already have a predominantly right-handed hitting lineup.

 

But Ordonez has a .306 career average against right-handers and a .310 average vs. lefties, so it wouldn't be a big sticking point if the Cubs were to have serious interest in Ordonez. While Ordonez is seeking a multi-year deal, he conceded Thursday he might have to settle for a one-year contract because he is coming off the torn meniscus.

 

His situation is becoming more commonplace in baseball, even for superstars. Ivan Rodriguez signed a one-year, $10 million deal with Florida in 2003, while Nomar Garciaparra signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Cubs. Ordonez doesn't think he has to "prove myself," pointing to his numbers from 1999-2003, when he ranked third among all right fielders with 590 RBIs. He hit .312 in that five-year span with an average of 32 homers and 118 RBIs per season.

 

But in the current baseball climate, Ordonez is ready for anything.

 

"If I have to do it, I have to do it," he said. "If nobody offers me [more than one year], I'll sign for one. I'll play left field, right field, center field … wherever they want me to play. I'm ready to play right now."

 

Ordonez switched representatives after the 2004 season, firing Tom Reich's agency to sign with Boras, who has most of the cream of this year's free-agent crop, including Beltran, Drew, Adrian Beltre, Jason Varitek and Kevin Millwood.

 

Asked why he made the switch, Ordonez said he wasn't happy with his representation after comments from Sox general manager Ken Williams in September suggesting his rehabilitation from the surgery could prevent Ordonez from being ready by next spring training. Ordonez thought Williams' comments hurt his leverage in the market, and that the injury was less severe than the Sox indicated.

 

"Boras is one of the best agents, and he protects his players," Ordonez said. "I needed someone to protect me. The Sox were saying some bad stuff about me, and my agent didn't respond. My job is not to [respond]. My job is to produce on the field and put up numbers and help the team win. I never said anything bad about the Sox, so I don't know why they would do that to me."

 

Ordonez said he wanted to thank Sox fans and was sorry his days on the South Side had to come to a premature end.

 

"It's over," he said. "But I appreciate what the fans did for me, all the support, and all the good times I had in Chicago."

 

Like Carlton Fisk, Jack McDowell, Alex Fernandez and others, Ordonez was a fan favorite whose Sox career had an ugly ending. He hopes Sox fans don't hold it against him that he left and maintained he harbored no resentment against the Sox organization, despite the war of words.

 

"I don't have any bad feelings," he said. "I'm not that kind of person."

 

Nevertheless, Ordonez is intent on showing Williams and Sox management his knee surgery was not as dire as he believes it was made out to be.

 

"The bone bruise is gone. The meniscus is repaired," he said. "I've done it on the field the last eight years. This was just a little bump in the road, not a big injury. I'm going to prove them all wrong."

Copyright © 2004, The Chicago Tribune

 

:fyou :fthecubs

[qwerty]

I could give a s*** less if he goes to the cubs. Anyways welcome to soxtalk.

[Chisoxfn]

Personally I could care less if he goes to the Cubs. Atlhough it will add to the rivarly when the teams meet up.

 

Welcome aboard

[SSHITMEN]

Thanks Ive been stuck on this site since the off season, great info here.

Can you imagine how much cub fans would rub this in our face. Thats like having your ex wife leave you for your worst enemy.

[Chisoxfn]

Thanks Ive been stuck on this site since the off season, great info here.

Can you imagine how much cub fans would rub this in our face. Thats like having your ex wife leave you for your worst enemy.

Just to add to this a bit. Todd Walker said he received a fair offer from the White Sox on the radio. But said something along the lines that he couldn't join the Sox.

 

I think he was referring that he didn't want to leave and have Cub fans absolutely hate him or something. That or he was taking a stab at the organization.

 

Its odd how Walker complained about his lack of playing time at one point last season and now Grudz is the one being shown the door. Grudz has had some health issues, but when healthy he's a pretty good top of the order hitter. His only flaw being the lack of speed.

 

Also a good character guy. Will do whatever is asked of him.

[SSHITMEN]

A lot of sox fans will be hurt by this. We can start some anti Magglio chants in the bleachers this year.

[Gene Honda Civic]

I'd love to watch Maggs play the final 35 games of his career on that wouded knee on the northside.

 

It would be like your ex-wife leaving you for your worst enemy, and giving him herpes.

[Chisoxfn]

Ya, Maggs is trying ot win back the fans, but at this point I know the offer that was on the table and Its quite obvious the relationship the Sox and Boras have, so its quite obvious Maggs had no desire of coming back to the Sox.

 

From the sounds of it, it all stems from the botched Nomar deal from the offseason. Seems like after that he figured the Sox didn't want him. I don't think that was ever the case, until he rejected a more then fair proposal (one of which would be close to being able to land Beltran right now; other then it would have to be about 2 years longer).

[santo=dorf]

A lot of sox fans will be hurt by this. We can start some anti Magglio chants in the bleachers this year.

I like ihatethecubs' suggestion: "O-E-OOOOOOO.. ASSSSSSSHOLE!!!!" :fthecubs

[fathom]

You have to love the Cubune putting out this report in the paper tomorrow, which I'm sure will be on the front page, while the Dye signing will get a little blurb on the side. The funny thing about this article is that it suggests that the Cubs aren't really interested in him. I also find it funny how Todd Walker played with the Cubs for one year, but had enough class not to sign with their crosstown rival, the Sox, because he didnt want to piss off the fans. Nice to see Maggs have the same class.

[YASNY]

I think Magglio got his wittle feewings hurt after the attempted trade and basically cut off any opportunity for the Sox to resign him at that point. And we all know Nomar reacted the same way. Let the Cubs have both of those crybabies to go along with a pouting and angry Sosa next year. Wrigley field should be such an enjoyable atmosphere.

[Chisoxfn]

I think Magglio got his wittle feewings hurt after the attempted trade and basically cut off any opportunity for the Sox to resign him at that point.  And we all know Nomar reacted the same way.  Let the Cubs have both of those crybabies to go along with a pouting and angry Sosa next year.  Wrigley field should be such an enjoyable atmosphere.

Haha, we sure read that the same way

[SSHITMEN]

You have to love the Cubune putting out this report in the paper tomorrow, which I'm sure will be on the front page, while the Dye signing will get a little blurb on the side.  The funny thing about this article is that it suggests that the Cubs aren't really interested in him. I also find it funny how Todd Walker played with the Cubs for one year, but had enough class not to sign with their crosstown rival, the Sox, because he didnt want to piss off the fans.  Nice to see Maggs have the same class.

I think a big part of it is the tribune does not want to put the Dye signing on the front page of their sports section.

[Chisoxfn]

I guess we'll see what happens in this mornings edition. But the Dye move deserves to be a front page move, especially since the Cubs had their news a couple days ago.

 

But then again I don't usually pay much attention to the headlines. I figure if the Sox do things right, the Trib won't be able to hold them back cause they'll finally make the series.

[AngelasDaddy0427]

So let me get this straight...

Maggs is telling the truth, the Sox are lying...

But no MLB team is allowed to give him a physical on his knee until after he signs the contract, just a work out?

Good luck with that liar. The Cubs have one overpaid worthless outfielder they don't need another one. If you didn't have anything to hide you'd let other teams give you a physical even if you hated the Sox.

[YASNY]

Magglio's side of the story

 

It don't look good for the home team. Just saying.

[chisox2334]

People move on the maggs situation will continue and continue. Its funny how when we sign dye maggs speaks. We have dye and happy hes here and dedicated to be here

[YASNY]

People move on the maggs situation will continue and continue. Its funny how when we sign dye maggs speaks. We have dye and happy hes here and dedicated to be here

Honestly, I wish every one ... Maggs, Boras, KW ... would just STFU.

[AngelasDaddy0427]

Magglio's side of the story

 

It don't look good for the home team.  Just saying.

:puke

God all those lies.

OK you f***ing liar. Now LET OTHER TEAMS GIVE YOU PHYSICALS...

Ohh wait they can't....

Thats because you have something to hide.

All the spin in the world isn't going to help you now.

All the stupid and gullable in our fan base are going to eat this up though.

[YASNY]

I just hate the way this kind of crap makes the Sox look in the eyes of other players. We get Jermaine Dye saying he thinks the Sox are a good fit for him and turning down more money from others to play for us, and then this garbage. It seems that every time a player leaves the Sox, this kind of thing happens. Why?

[winninguglyin83]

It happens because JR never wants to overpay or even pay close to top dollar.

 

It's been happening for at least a decade.

 

Fisk, McDowell, Fernandez, Ventura, Durham, Foulke, Maggs.

 

They can't ALL be wrong.

 

The only guy who has been around is Frank -- and he'll be the one ripping the White sox when he is cut loose after next season.

 

I think Maggs is hiding something by avoiding the physicals and now canceling his workouts in Anaheim. He is obviously not ready. Plus he hired Boras because he knows that Boras lies out his ass and Reich is considered a stand-up agent.

 

But the Sox definitely need to work on player relations because the word is out there that big name players usually leave pissed off.

[The Critic]

I just hate the way this kind of crap makes the Sox look in the eyes of other players.  We get Jermaine Dye saying he thinks the Sox are a good fit for him and turning down more money from others to play for us, and then this garbage.  It seems that every time a player leaves the Sox, this kind of thing happens.  Why?

Alou whined when he left the Cubs.

Garciaparra cried about the Red Sox when they dealt him.

If Pedro signs somewhere other than Boston, he WILL cry about the red Sox also. BANK on it.

It's everywhere, and it's almost everyone.

I don't let it bother me - Magglio talks about not wanting to leave, yet that thought means nothing when the Sox' offer isn't for every last penny he thinks he can squeeze out of them. Loyalty is a one-way street for players AND owners - players are out to maximize their earning power, owners are out to maximize their profits. Can't blame either side, but don't b**** to me about loyalty.

[Texsox]

I just hate the way this kind of crap makes the Sox look in the eyes of other players.  We get Jermaine Dye saying he thinks the Sox are a good fit for him and turning down more money from others to play for us, and then this garbage.  It seems that every time a player leaves the Sox, this kind of thing happens.  Why?

Makes it hard to sign free agents. At least we've been able to keep Frank Thomas smiling every year and happy as hell with the organization and his contracts.

 

I am certain no one here would get their feelings hurt if they knew their boss was trying to get rid of them. Imagine not knowing where you would be living that season? Which schools your kids would be going to? Should you sign a new lease, buy that home? I know they are well compensated, but with all that money comes some real s***ty stuff. I remember how stressful my relocation was, and I had options. Basically being told by your boss that they thnk they can do better wthout you and you may have to move and work for a different company, must really suck.

 

I am just thankful he didn't accept that last Sox offer. We already have a great DH, and if he's slowed or worse, it would have been a mess.

[SnB]

Good, let the cubs give him the huge contract he wants, and watch him earn it while being on the DL for most of the year.

Who would have thought mags would have fallen off this bad?

[Texsox]

Can't blame either side, but don't b**** to me about loyalty.

Exactly. From both sides. The owners want the players to be loyal and work for less, the players want the owners to be loyal and show "respect" (Player to English dictionary lists respect = money) and of course everyone wants the fans to be loyal. Alomar and Kelly are gone. No one complains about owner loyalty. If the team wanted either one to stay we would be hearing some crap about the players being loyal and staying.