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The A's took a huge step in revamping their bullpen Thursday, making a three-year offer to free-agent left-hander Arthur Rhodes and acquiring left-hander Chris Hammond from the New York Yankees for two minor leaguers and cash.
Rhodes' deal, which would make him the A's closer, is contingent on the 13-year
veteran passing a physical. A source close to the negotiations said the deal
is believed to be worth about $9 million.
"If he passes the physical, he's an A," Dan Horwitz, Rhodes' agent, said Thursday night. "Obviously since it's still contingent on passing a physical, we're still talking to other teams, but I don't see any reason this can't be wrapped up by this weekend."
Rhodes, 34, has been primarily a set-up man during his career, but the A's targeted
him to replace closer Keith Foulke, who last week signed as a free agent with
the Boston Red Sox.
The physical is considered a formality because Rhodes has been amazingly durable
with the Seattle Mariners, averaging 69 appearances the past four seasons.
"We're getting closer to a resolution," General Manager Billy Beane
said. "We're hopeful that it will get done no later than this weekend."
Rhodes was paid $3.5 million last season with the Mariners and reportedly has
an offer on the table from the Atlanta Braves. Ticketmaster. Horwitz said seven
teams have inquired about Rhodes' services, but only two wanted to make him
a closer.
Rhodes has converted 17 of 44 save opportunities in his career (Foulke was 43
for 48 last season) but is considered to have the mentality and presence to
finish games. Rhodes is 6-foot-2, 205 pounds and throws a fastball that reaches
the mid-90s along with a hard slider. Rhodes has averaged more than a strikeout
an inning in eight of the past nine seasons.
"He's got an intimidation factor about him that is something a lot of pitchers
don't have," said first baseman Scott Hatteberg, who along with pitchers
Barry Zito and Rich Harden and Manager Ken Macha attended the A's first-pitch
fan event Thursday at the Coliseum Arena. "I think he can be one of the
top pitchers in the game."
Rhodes probably won't be the A's only significant move this weekend.
Beane said he is negotiating a multiyear contract with the agent for left-hander
Mark Redman, who was acquired Tuesday from the Florida Marlins to fill the No.
4 spot in the rotation. Redman on Saturday can become a free agent if a deal
can't be worked out or he isn't offered arbitration.
"We're hopeful," Beane said. "We're still working on it."
The A's also will learn Saturday if Damian Miller will be their replacement
for All-Star catcher Ramon Hernandez, shoring up the only glaring hole on the
roster. Miller will be the player to be determined in the Tuesday trade that
sent catcher Michael Barrett to the Chicago Cubs if the Cubs sign or offer arbitration
to Barrett before the Saturday deadline.
"There are some things in the works," Macha said. "We just have
to see what happens."
The A's sent shortstop J.T. Stotts, a third-round pick in the 2001 draft, and
right-hander Edwardo Sierra to the Yankees for Hammond and about $1 million.
Hammond, who signed a two-year deal before 2003, will be paid $2.6 million this
season. There is a $3 million team option for 2005, but it can be bought out
for $200,000.
Hammond can fill long, middle and set-up roles for a bullpen that will return
left-hander Ricardo Rincon and right-handers Chad Bradford and Jim Mecir.
"He gives us a lot of depth," Beane said. "Losing Foulke and
not having a clear-cut closer available to us, we want to have as many quality
relievers as possible."
Hammond, 37, retired to his family's 218-acre farm in Alabama after the 1998
season because of "burnout" and a series of injuries. But he has resurrected
his career since returning to the minors in 2001 at the suggestion of his wife,
who said she regretted that the couple's two young sons had never known Hammond
as a "baseball dad."
In 2002, Hammond was 7-2 with a 0.95 ERA in 63 games with the Braves before
joining the Yankees last season as a free agent. Hammonds made 62 appearances
with the Yankees and was 3-2 with a 2.86 ERA, but he fell out of favor after
some midseason struggles. He made 22 appearances after the All-Star break and
was left off the Yankees' division and championship series roster before making
one appearance in the World Series.
"I talked with Billy and they're really trying to build the bullpen, I'm
really looking forward to that," Hammond said. "I'm not going to have
a specific role, and I like that."