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• Sources: Rangers still in contact with Lohse

  March 14, 2013 by KenRosenthal

  Kyle Lohse went through this as a free agent once before. Five years ago on Thursday, he signed a one-year, $4.25 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.

  This time, Lohse is taking even longer to find a new team.

  Lohse, 34, is working out both near his home in Arizona and at a facility operated by his agent, Scott Boras — the Boras Sports Training Institute in Aliso Viejo, Calif. He is facing hitters at the institute, and threw 85 pitches in his most recent outing, Boras said.

  The Texas Rangers remain in contact with Lohse, according to major-league sources. Boras said only that multiple teams are interested.

  “He’s doing his workouts, and we’ve continued talking with a number of teams,” Boras said. "A lot of teams are evaluating their existing situations, but have called and have interest in Kyle.”

  Lohse’s market is slow in part because he is subject to draft-pick compensation, but executives also cite his high asking price — a three-year deal with a “big” average salary, according to one exec.

  The Rangers, though, continue to make sense for Lohse on a couple of levels.

  Two of their starting pitchers, left-hander Martin Perez and righty Colby Lewis, are expected to be out until early May with injuries. Another of their starters, righty Alexi Ogando, is converting from the bullpen to the rotation.

  The Rangers also are in better position than most clubs to forfeit a draft pick for Lohse. They select 24^th – a relatively low position – and gained the 30^th choice when they lost free-agent outfielder Josh Hamilton to the Angels.

  Draft-pick compensation for Lohse would be eliminated if he waited to sign until after the draft, which takes place between June 6 and 8.

  Boras continues to express confidence that the pitcher will sign before then.

  — Ken Rosenthal

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• The impact of Yadi

  March 13, 2013 by KenRosenthal

   

  MIAMI – For all that is now quantifiable in baseball, there are still some things that cannot be measured. The effect of St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina on a pitching staff is one of them.

  ‘Now that I get to watch him a little bit, he’s the best,” said former major-league first baseman Carlos Delgado, Team Puerto Rico’s hitting coach in the World Baseball Classic.

  “He’ll go to a pitcher and tell him, ‘Make a pitch. I’ll block it. It’s on me.’ He’ll take that responsibility,” Delgado said.  “When you’ve got a younger guy on the mound, and he’s a little hesitant about bouncing a breaking ball to put a hitter away, and you’ve got the best catcher in the game that goes to the mound and says, ‘Finish your pitch. Don’t worry about it. I’ll do it. I’ll block it.’ . . . it gives pitchers that confidence that they can finish their pitches.

  “They don’t even have to think. Throw what he puts down. Trust him. It takes a lot of weight off them.”

  Puerto Rico allowed only seven runs in three games in the first round of the tournament, and their opponents included two powerhouses, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. Even Tuesday night, in a 7-1 loss to Team USA in the opener of the second round, Puerto Rico stayed close before the U.S. scored three runs in the eighth inning.

  So, how do you quantify any of this?

  Molina ranked eighth in the majors with a 3.60 catcher’s ERA last season, but the flaw in that statistic, as noted by sabermetricians, is selection bias; a catcher’s ERA is largely contingent on the quality of his pitchers.

  Team Puerto Rico’s pitching staff in the WBC is mostly young and less than major-league caliber. The Cardinals, too, are going with younger pitchers this season; they’ve lost Chris Carpenter to injury and almost certainly will lose free agent Kyle Lohse. But the Molina advantage allows his teams to take such chances.

  You can’t quite measure it. But it’s there.

  -Ken Rosenthal

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• Latest on pitching market from GM meetings

  November 07, 2012 by JonPaulMorosi

  Notes and analysis on the market for starting pitchers, near the end of Day 1 at the general managers’ meetings in Indian Wells, Calif.:

  — Free agent Anibal Sanchez is in a “favorable position” within the marketplace, according to one club official. Sanchez may not reach the $100 million mark, but multiple people within the industry believe he’s headed for a deal similar to the one C.J. Wilson signed last offseason: five years, $77.5 million.

  Sanchez, only 28, has a chance to break the $80 million mark, for a number of reasons: He pitched well during the 2012 postseason, he proved that he can succeed in the American League, and the right teams – the Dodgers, Rangers, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Tigers – are interested.

  — Because Sanchez’s value point is more defined, it won’t be a surprise if he signs before Zack Greinke, who is viewed as the top free-agent starter.

  — In some respects, the free-agent market won’t open in earnest until the Tampa Bay Rays trade a starting pitcher, like Jeremy Hellickson or James Shields. Clubs may prefer to work out a trade with the Rays – for a lower-salaried player – rather than invest tens of millions in Greinke, Sanchez or Kyle Lohse.

  — Dan Haren, a free agent after the Angels declined his option, could be a secondary choice for teams that whiff on Greinke and Sanchez. Haren is coming off a disappointing season in which he showed diminished stuff, but the need for pitching is such that it won’t be a surprise if he signs a two-year contract. The Padres are an intriguing possibility; Haren, a native of Southern California, knows San Diego executives Josh Byrnes and A.J. Hinch from their time together in Arizona.

  — Missouri resident Shaun Marcum, a free agent, has interest in pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals or Kansas City Royals, a source said.

  — Twins general manager Terry Ryan is looking for multiple starting pitchers. The organizational depth chart at the position is exceedingly thin.

  — Jon Paul Morosi

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• La Russa can tell Leyland still has passion for job

  October 18, 2012 by JonPaulMorosi

  Jim Leyland has said he wants to return as the Detroit Tigers’ manager next year.

  Tony La Russa can tell that just by watching his close friend work.

  “He’s as passionate now as he was the first day he managed,” La Russa said Wednesday, before Game 4 of the American League Championship Series was postponed. “You can tell. Look at his face in the ninth inning (of Game 3), when (Phil) Coke was facing (Raul) Ibañez.”

  What keeps Leyland going at age 67? “He loves the competition,” La Russa said. “He loves the game of baseball. And he knows he does it well.”

  La Russa, 68, retired with the most wins of any living manager after the St. Louis Cardinals won his third World Series title last year. Leyland doesn’t have a contract for next year but is widely expected to return to the Tigers. When asked if he would advise his friend to duplicate that rare career move — win it all and retire — La Russa smiled.

  “If I told him that, he would manage 10 more years,” quipped La Russa, who now works for Major League Baseball. “He does the exact opposite of what I tell him to do. If I tell him how lousy it is, then he might retire.”

  — Jon Paul Morosi

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• Cardinals monitoring pitching market

  July 17, 2012 by KenRosenthal

  It’s no secret that the Cardinals could use another starting pitcher. Right-hander Chris Carpenter is out for the season. Left-hander Jaime Garcia remains sidelined with a left shoulder sprain.

  The team, while frustrated by the high asking prices for starting pitchers, continues to perform its due diligence in the pitching market, monitoring both starters and relievers, according to major-league sources.

  Among the starting pitchers who could interest the Cardinals: Mariners left-hander Jason Vargas and Astros left-hander Wandy Rodriguez.

  Vargas, 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA, leads the majors with 25 home runs allowed, including 19 away from the Mariners’ home park, pitcher-friendly Safeco Field. His ERA is 2.84 at home, 5.04 on the road.

  However, Vargas is on pace for his third consecutive season of 190 or more innings, and is under club control through next season.

  The Mariners scouted one of the Cardinals’ top pitching prospects, Class A right-hander Tyrell Jenkins, on Monday night, according to a major-league source. It is not known whether the teams are in active discussions on Vargas or anyone else.

  Rodriguez, a member of the Astros since 2005, is quite familiar to the Cardinals — and Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow, who previously was a Cardinals’ executive, is quite familiar with the St. Louis farm system.

  From 2009 to ’11, Rodriguez had a 3.36 ERA and averaged nearly 200 innings. He is performing at roughly the same level this season. After 19 starts, he is 7-7 with a 3.51 ERA.

  The issue with Rodriguez is his contract – he is earning $10 million this season and $13 million next season with a $13 million club option for 2014.

  The Astros, however, paid virtually all of first baseman Carlos Lee’s remaining salary when they traded him to the Marlins, and presumably are willing to include a significant amount of cash in a Rodriguez trade as well.

  If the Cardinals add a starting pitcher, they would have the option of moving either right-hander Lance Lynn or righty Joe Kelly to the bullpen. They signed veteran left-handed reliever, Brian Fuentes to a minor-league contract on Saturday.

  — Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi

   

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• Astros playing too well to sell - so far

  May 07, 2012 by KenRosenthal

  If run differential is an indicator of underlying performance, then the Houston Astros qualify as nearly as big a surprise in the National League as the Baltimore Orioles are in the American League.

  The Orioles’ plus-34 run differential ranks second in the AL behind the Rangers’ plus-47. The Astros are tied with the Washington Nationals for third in the NL at plus-14, trailing only the St. Louis Cardinals (plus-62) and Atlanta Braves (plus-27).

  What does it all mean?

  Probably not much, considering that the season is not even 20 percent complete. The Astros are playing hard, and second baseman Jose Altuve, in particular, has been a revelation. But the team still figures to be an active seller at the deadline.

  “Our objective is to aggregate as much talent as possible, as quickly as possible,” new general manager Jeff Luhnow told me last week, at the start of what became a 5-1 homestand against the New York Mets and Cardinals.

  “If we have pieces on our club that are in demand by other clubs and we get enough future value for them to make up for the short-term loss, we’ll consider every opportunity.”

  Left-hander Wandy Rodriguez, first baseman Carlos Lee, closer Brett Myers and right-handed setup reliever Brandon Lyon are the pieces most likely to generate discussions.

  “I think late this summer there will be demand for some of our players,” Luhnow said. “We’ll have those conversations. But right now, we’re not actively pushing anything.

  “Our veteran players are contributing. Wandy is pitching like a No. 1. Myers is pitching like an elite closer. Carlos has played a good first base. Lyon has been solid in the bullpen. We need those guys right now. I’m not in any rush to have any conversations about our veteran players.”

  Luhnow was not exaggerating. Rodriguez is 3-2 with a 1.64 ERA. Myers is 7 for 7 in save opportunities with a 1.04 ERA. Lee is batting a relatively modest .289 with a .355 on-base percentage and .392 slugging average, and Lyon has a 2.89 ERA.

  Contracts, though, are a problem. The Astros would need to include significant cash in deals to get a quality return.

  Rodriguez is guaranteed $10 million this season, $13 million next season and a $2.5 million buyout in his $13 million option for 2014.

  Myers is earning $11 million, with a $3 million buyout on his $10 million option. Lee is making $18.5 million and can block trades to 14 clubs. Lyon is earning $5.5 million.

  — Ken Rosenthal

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• Cardinals' talks with Molina progressing

  February 27, 2012 by KenRosenthal

  A year ago at this time, the St. Louis Cardinals held a news conference to discuss why they were unable to complete a long-term contract for first baseman Albert Pujols.

  Everyone knows how that story ended - Pujols signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. But the Cardinals' talks are proceeding more smoothly this spring with another of their All-Star position players, catcher Yadier Molina.

  “We are making progress and hopefully we can work something out,” Molina’s agent, Melvin Roman, said Monday.

  Molina, 29, is eligible for free agency at the end of the season. The Cardinals likely are willing to give him a deal of four and possibly five years, sources say.

  Only six catchers have signed long-term deals with salaries that exceeded $10 million per season – Joe Mauer, Mike Piazza, Jason Kendall, Jorge Posada, Ivan Rodriguez and Jason Varitek.

  Molina, coming off a career-best offensive season, is virtually certain to join that list, with a salary in the $10 million to $12 million range. He batted .305/.349/.465 last season with a career-high 14 homers.

  In addition, Molina won the Platinum Glove, an award voted by fans to the best overall defender in the National League. Lastt but not least, he was the catcher for the Cardinals’ World Series championship teams in 2006 and ’11.

  — Ken Rosenthal

   

   

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• Reds still pursuing Oswalt

  February 06, 2012 by KenRosenthal

  The Cincinnati Reds took advantage of a depressed market to sign free-agent closer Ryan Madson.

  Now the team is trying to do the same with free-agent right-hander Roy Oswalt.

  The Reds remain in talks with Oswalt, according to major league sources.

  Oswalt, 34, would prefer to pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals or Texas Rangers, sources say, and some in the industry doubt that he would sign with any other team.

  But the Reds, just as they were with Madson, are willing to make a deal work.

  The team would need to clear payroll to sign Oswalt, who is believed to be seeking $8 million to $10 million on a one-year deal. Right-hander Homer Bailey, earning $2.425 million in 2012, would be the most likely candidate to be moved, sources say.

  The Reds’ one-year, $8.5 million deal with Madson was creatively structured, with the team paying $6 million to the closer this season, including $2 million deferred until Nov. 1, 2012 and $2 million deferred until Nov. 1, 2013. Madson would earn another $2.5 million on the buyout of his $11 million mutual option for ’13.

  Oswalt likely would need to accept similar terms, but his inability to reach agreement with either the Cardinals or Rangers reopened the process. The Boston Red Sox remain interested in him as well, sources say.

  A report by FOXSports.com on Saturday night indicating that the Reds had merely kicked the tires on Oswalt and were not actively pursuing him was incorrect, sources say.

  — Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi

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• Oswalt not clean fit for Cardinals

  January 28, 2012 by KenRosenthal

  If the St. Louis Cardinals are to sign free-agent right-hander Roy Oswalt, as reports suggest, then someone likely will need to be creative.

  Maybe Oswalt, who could accept a discounted deal to play close to a farm that he owns in northern Missouri.

  Or maybe the Cardinals, who could trade either right-hander Kyle Lohse or Jake Westbrook to clear a spot for Oswalt in their rotation.

  Then again, maybe something else is going on — perhaps an undisclosed injury – that is creating a sudden need in St. Louis.

  Oswalt prefers to play for the Cardinals or Texas Rangers, but was not close to a deal with the Cardinals late Friday night, major-league sources said.

  Things change quickly in free-agent negotiations, as demonstrated by the Angels’ signing of free-agent first baseman Albert Pujols and Tigers’ signing of free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder. Club executives and player agents also leak inaccurate information on occasion to advance or disguise their own interests.

  The Cardinals’ motives are unclear, but they have inquired about another free-agent right-hander, Edwin Jackson, in recent days, according to one source. They also made Oswalt a one-year offer of about $5 million earlier this month, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. The Rangers, like the Cardinals, are interested in Oswalt but do not see him as an obvious fit. They have yet to make Oswalt an offer, a source said.

  The Cardinals’ rotation already includes five veteran starters — right-handers Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, lefty Jaime Garcia and Lohse and Westbrook.

  Carpenter, 36, pitched a career-high 273-1/3 innings in 2011, including postseason. Wainwright missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery but is expected to be ready by spring training.

  Both Lohse and Westbrook have full no-trade clauses and limited trade value. Both also would be rather expensive as relievers; Lohse will earn $11.875 million in 2012, Westbrook $8.5 million.

  — Ken Rosenthal

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• Astros' Luhnow talks about his first trade

  December 14, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  Jeff Luhnow was named Astros general manager only six days ago. His first nine years in baseball were with the Cardinals. So, how is it that he pulled off a trade so quickly, and one that two rival executives called a win for the Astros?

  Allow Luhnow to explain how he and new Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington negotiated the deal that sent reliever Mark Melancon to Boston on Wednesday for infielder Jed Lowrie and right-hander Kyle Wieland.

  “Several of the GMs have been very welcoming — they called me, talked to me, welcomed me to the club,” Luhnow said. “Ben was one of those guys. He reached out almost immediately. It was very nice to hear from him.

  “We started talking. Originally, it was about some other players. But pretty quickly we figured out that he had a surplus of middle infielders — and that was a big need for us.”

  Luhnow said the early talks involved the possibility of the Astros moving some of their high-salaried players — presumably, first baseman Carlos Lee, left-hander Wandy Rodriguez and right-hander Brett Myers.

  “There wasn’t a lot of appetite for that (from Boston),” Luhnow said. “That withered on the vine. We talked three or four times starting Saturday. (Tuesday) morning, it intensified. It was a pretty straightforward situation.”

  Luhnow said that he had a working knowledge of all three players; he had scouted each of them in college while with the Cardinals. The trade also marked Cherington’s first significant deal since he replaced Theo Epstein as Red Sox GM on Oct. 25.

  “You never want to give up a 26-year-old closer under control,” Luhnow said. “But given where the Astros are right now, is that piece of the puzzle the most important vs. a solid, up-the-middle player with some pop and a young guy who may be a middle- or back-of-the rotation starter down the road?

  “What we got is perfect for what we need.”

  — Ken Rosenthal

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• Marlins likely, but not certain to keep Ramirez

  December 05, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

  Miami Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest indicated it’s likely — but not certain — Hanley Ramirez will remain with the team after the expected signing of shortstop Jose Reyes.

  Beinfest was circumspect in discussing his plans Monday, since the team has yet to formally announce Reyes’ six-year, $106 million contract. But when asked how the signing of a new shortstop would impact Ramirez, the incumbent shortstop, Beinfest said: “If something like that happened, he would change positions. If and when we acquire a shortstop, we’ll address that. Hanley wants to win. We’d like to provide the pieces around him to help him win.”

  Ramirez has a strong preference to remain at shortstop, sources say, but he intends to handle the matter with the Marlins professionally. He has not requested a trade. One major league source said Ramirez is likely to move to third base.

  Beinfest was asked if Ramirez had suggested he would prefer a trade to switching positions.

  “Whatever Hanley and I talk about, we’ll keep between Hanley and I,” Beinfest said. “I can only tell you he wants to win. We’re going to try to help him out.”

  Asked if he envisions Ramirez on his Opening Day roster in 2012, Beinfest replied, “I’m not going to talk specifically about players, if they’re going to be here or not.”

  If the Marlins were to make Ramirez available via trade, the Braves, Red Sox, Astros, Brewers, Phillies, Cardinals, Giants and Mariners are among the teams that could upgrade at shortstop.

  — Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal

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• Could Moreland surgery prompt Prince pursuit?

  November 30, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

  The Texas Rangers announced Wednesday evening that first baseman Mitch Moreland will need a recovery period of 8-12 weeks after undergoing surgery to remove the pisiform bone from his right wrist.

  It’s impossible to know if Moreland will be game-ready when the Rangers’ spring-training schedule begins, raising an obvious question: Could the uncertainty surrounding Moreland’s immediate future nudge the Rangers into a more serious pursuit of free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder?

  Right now, at least, it appears the answer is no, particularly given the existence of in-house contingencies Michael Young and Mike Napoli.

  The Rangers have interest in Fielder, sources say, but CEO/president Nolan Ryan downplayed the possibility of signing Fielder or Albert Pujols for seven or eight years in an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram earlier this offseason. Sources describe Fielder as not high on the Rangers’ priority list, citing a more pressing need to upgrade the rotation and bullpen. Texas is keeping tabs on free-agent starters Mark Buehrle and C.J. Wilson.

  The Brewers, Cubs, Mariners and Nationals are among the teams with interest in Fielder, sources say.

  At this point, the Rangers are not seriously courting Pujols, sources say.

  -- Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal

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• Cardinals, Reds and Tigers interested in Dotel

  November 28, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

  Free-agent reliever Octavio Dotel has garnered interest from a number of teams, and the Cardinals, Reds and Tigers are among those that have inquired about him, according to a major-league source.

  Dotel, who turned 38 last week, was a valuable member of the Cardinals’ bullpen during the second half and World Series run, compiling a 2.61 ERA in 12 postseason appearances.

  Dotel seems best suited for a seventh-inning role at this stage of his career, but he can handle the eighth and ninth innings when needed. He saved 22 games as recently as the 2010 season.

  -- Jon Paul Morosi

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• Could World Series have been Bell vs. Adams?

  October 19, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

  At the July trade deadline, the San Diego Padres had two big-name relievers on the market: closer Heath Bell and setup man Mike Adams.

  The Rangers were among the teams interested in Adams. They made the trade.

  The Cardinals were among the teams interested in Bell. They didn’t.

  On Tuesday, it was mentioned to Adams that he easily could have opposed his former teammate in the World Series.

  “I guess so,” Adams said. “There was a lot of places he could have ended up. Unfortunately for him, I guess — I don’t know how much he wanted to (leave) — he ended up in San Diego for the remainder of the year.

  “But he’s going to be all right. He’s going to go somewhere where the team’s pretty good. And he’s going to get compensated very well.”

  (We should acknowledge that it may not have been possible for the Cardinals to trade for Bell while also making the Colby Rasmus trade — a move widely credited with pushing them into the postseason.)

  Bell will be a free agent this offseason after saving 43 games with a 2.44 ERA in 2011.

  So, where does Adams think Bell will end up?

  “With a nice contract,” Adams said. “I don’t know where he ends up, but he ends up with a nice contract, I know that.”

  Last year, Bell, Adams and setup man Luke Gregerson comprised one of the best 7-8-9 combinations in baseball. If Bell leaves via free agency, the Padres could evaluate Gregerson as a possible closer.

  “Luke can get the job done,” Adams said. “He struggled a little this year. He had some issues with the slider. But when Luke’s on, Luke’s one of the best in the game.

  “There’s a couple guys over there that are going to be battling for that spot. I hope Luke gets the opportunity to close over there. Hopefully for him, he gets it all back together this winter, has a good spring and gets that job.”

  — Jon Paul Morosi

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• Selig Convinced Postseason Will Expand

  October 10, 2011 by TracyRingolsby

  Commissioner Bud Selig remains confident that baseball will eventually expand its postseason from the current eight teams to 10. However, he acknowledges it isn’t likely that the new plan can be in place for the 2012 season.

  Asked during a session with the media prior to Monday’s NLCS game in Milwaukee how he felt about people pushing for adding teams to the postseason, Selig smiled.

  "Since I’m the guy I don’t want to be too critical of me,’’ he said. "I think 10 of 30 (teams advancing) is fair. I have a 14-man committee and the vote has been 14-0.’’

  Any change would have to be approved by the Major League Baseball Players Association, which currently is renegotiating its basic agreement with baseball. Given the logistical issues, and the fact next year’s schedule already is released, Selig indicated implementation of a new playoff system next year is not likely, but did not rule it out.

  In an open question-and-answer session he also addressed:

  • The fact none of the teams with the top nine payrolls made it into an LCS.

   

  "Way back when I started (as commissioner) in 1992, the object was to provide hope and faith,’’ Selig said. "I really regard my job is to provide as much hope and faith in as many places as possible. believe the sport is as healthy as it has ever been. … Detroit, Texas, Milwaukee and St. Louis (in the LCS) is the manifestation of that. I think that having different clubs is not bad at all. I’m proud of it.’’

  • Memories of the 1982 World Series, which featured the two teams in this year's NLCS, as St. Louis beat Selig's Milwaukee team.

   

  "Not that I’m a poor loser, but it’s 29 years later and if we had (injured closer Rollie) Fingers, we win,’’ Selig said. "We won the first of that Series 10-0. I thought to myself, `Boy we’re good.’ But Whitey (Herzog, St. Louis manager) did a great job, although, to Whitey’s credit, when I saw him at Cooperstown last year he said, `You’re right. If you had Fingers, it might have been different.’’’

  • Current negotiations with the MLBPA on a basic agreement.

   

  "They have quiet, thoughtful and constructive talks,’’ Selig said. "I give a lot of credit to both parties. They are far different from the labor negotiations in the '70s, '80s and '90s. Those were awful. I remember saying they were not helpful and healthy for the game.’’

  • Success of the Brewers, which began as the Seattle Pilots and were purchased after their inaugural season of 1969 by a group headed by Selig, and moved to Milwaukee to replace the Braves.

   

  "I tell everybody I am netural,’’ he said with a smile. "What it has produced in me is a lot of history. I was a kid of 29 when I started trying to get a team back when the Braves left. You have no idea how difficult that was.’’

  Selig said he failed in efforts to land expansion teams in 1969, and had an effort to buy the Chicago White Sox fall through. Even the move to buy Seattle was a challenge because then-Commissioner Bowie Kuhn wanted the team to stay in Seattle. However, a bankruptcy court opened the door for Selig, whose purchase of the Brewers for the 1970 season wasn’t finalized until "March 31 that year at 10:15 at night.’’

  • A one-on-one meeting he had last week with Jim Crane, who is seeking approval of his offer to buy Houston.

   

  "I thought the meeting was constructive,’’ Selig said. "It was the first time he and I spent any time together.’’

  • The viability of the Mets ownership.

   

  "I don’t have concerns,’’ Selig said. "I talked with Fred (Wilpon) and he feels good about it. They seem to be moving along in a good pattern.’’

  • The legal battles over Frank McCourt’s continuing to own the Los Angeles Dodgers.

   

  "It’s been a difficult situation,’’ he said. "So far we have done well in court.’’

  • On the designated hitter.

   

  "I am the only one left in the American League now — shows you how old I am — who in December of 1972 voted for Charlie Finley and the designated hitter," Selig said. "The only thing I want to add, so I put history in its perspective, it’s the only thing of Finley’s that I voted for. I voted no on 882 other things. It killed me to vote for it. Dick O’Connell of the Boston Red Sox convinced me to do it because we needed more offense.

  "Bill Giles of the Phillies, who’s been in the sport a long time and is not a controversial guy, says to me, 'I like a little controversy between the leagues. … The National League guys don’t like it. The American League does,' and that doesn’t bother me at all.’’

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