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Danys Baez wasn't offered a 2004 contract by the Cleveland Indians on Saturday, the latest step in an offseason of intriguing roster moves.
Since Nov. 14, the Indians have declined their $5 million option on the right-hander, sent him outright to Triple-A Buffalo, purchased his contract and offered him a two-year proposal worth $4 million.
Under baseball's
collective bargaining agreement, the Indians were prohibited from cutting a
player's salary by more than 20 percent. Baez made $5,125,000 this year and
if the rule applied, a contract to Baez would have had to be for at least $4.1
million.
By allowing him to become a free agent, the Indians can now sign him for any
amount without the chance of a grievance over whether taking him off the 40-man
roster last month meant he wasn't subject to the maximum cut rule.
``We are still hopeful that Danys will be a member of our 2004 bullpen,'' Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said. ``But under his current contractual parameters, we did not feel like a positive compromise was possible. Non-tendering him represents the best alternative and our best hope for reaching a new contract.''
As the Indians' closer, Baez went 2-9 with a 3.81 ERA, blew 10 of 35 save chances and eventually lost his job to David Riske.
The Indians, who are looking to add depth to their bullpen, have tried Baez as a starter, setup man and closer since signing him to a $14.5 million, four-year contract in 2000.
Cleveland also declined to offer a contract to left-hander Carl Sadler, who expected to sign a minor league contract with the Indians next week.