Yanks Get Oliver to Back Up Posada

By BUSTER OLNEY

Leery of signing someone who might be perceived as a threat by catcher
Jorge Posada, the Yankees thought about acquiring Joe Oliver last year
but didn't. So all season, club executives and staff members cringed
every time a foul ball cracked off Posada's bare hand or shoulder,
because the Yankees didn't have a backup catcher they trusted.

Oliver became a free agent again this off-season, and this time the
Yankees moved swiftly. They signed him yesterday to a one-year deal
that guarantees him $1.25 million. Oliver will be paid $1.1 million
this season, and the Yankees hold a $1.5 million option on him for
next season. If they don't exercise that option, the Yankees will pay
a $150,000 buyout.

The Yankees also have all but wrapped up a one-year deal of $500,000
for the utility infielder Luis Sojo. And the Yankees are considering
signing David Cone to be their fifth starter, for a base salary of
about $500,000 to $1 million, and Cone is considering whether he wants
to sign with the Yankees; no formal offers have been made, according
to people familiar with the talks. If the Yankees don't reach an
agreement with Cone by Dec. 7, then he could not re-sign with the
Yankees until May 1.

---------------

Does anybody know what this means? Why couldn't he re-sign until May
1??


--
susan peters ~ [email protected]

YANKS OWE CONE ONE MORE CHANCE Wednesday,November 22,2000

by Wallace Matthews

FOUR weeks ago today, David Cone got the Yankees what was arguably the
most important out of the Subway Series.

Two days ago, the Yankees offered to pay him back by cutting his
salary 98 percent.

Welcome to the world of hardball. Sometimes, you throw the pitch and
sometimes you get hit by it.

Right now, Cone is diving into the dirt like Mike Piazza facing Roger
Clemens.

It's sad, considering the fact that Cone is one of the few real good
guys in baseball.

It's humiliating, because Cone, who will be 38 next season, had given
the Yankees four gutsy seasons before his body finally betrayed him in
2000.

And it's ironic, because Cone, who has often professed a desire to be
a sportswriter, would now make less than some sportswriters who have
lost even more off their fastballs than Cone.

But in the end, it is absolutely fair because these days, this is how
the game is played.

Forget about the 55-38 regular-season record and the 6-1 post-season
record as a Yankee, or the 20-win season in 1998, or the perfect game
he pitched a year ago July.

After last season, Cone - coming off a so-so individual season
enlivened tremendously by the perfect game and a clutch performance
against the Red Sox in the ALCS - held up the Yankees for a one-year,
$12 million deal.

It could have been worse. Cone wanted two years.

This year, it is the Yankees' turn to turn the screws on Cone.

Cone didn't give the Yankees much for their money this season, just
four regular-season wins, which translates to about $3 million per W,
a ton of worry every time he took the baseball -and that Piazza
pop-out to end the fifth inning of Game 4, when the Mets were still
threatening to make a fight of it.

So, in return, the Yankees aren't giving much back - a minor-league
deal worth $500,000, with a ceiling of $1 million if Cone makes the
team as the No. 5 starter.

Now, one key out in the World Series does not cancel out the futility
of a lost season, and nobody should weep over a guy having to muddle
along on a half-million bucks a year.

But there is something disturbing about the Yankees' treatment of
Cone, because it shows once again that for all the touchy-feely stuff
that gets rammed down fans' throats during photo ops like the
championship parade, baseball is a team game during the season only.

The rest of the time, it is a nasty, unforgiving business.

That is the way it is in all professional sports these days. You get
me this year; I'll get you back next year.

Or, the next time you stumble and your bargaining position weakens.

And that goes for the guys on your own team.

This is what the Scott Borases and the David Falks have wrought, an
atmosphere of hostility and disloyalty between players and ownership
that results in tit-for-tat negotiations and a desire not only to cash
in, but to rub the other guy's face in it.

When you see guys like Manny Ramirez turning down $140 million
contracts and Alex Rodriguez - or, more likely, Boras - demanding the
kind of perks the President of the United States would be ashamed to
ask for, you just know the owners are lying in the grass, waiting to
get even.

And who can blame them?

The top players have got them over a barrel, and even second-tier
players -$2.2 million for Lenny Harris? - are commanding the kind of
money that would choke John D. Rockefeller himself.

Why wouldn't they, at the first opportunity, look to cut the legs out
from under a player whose performance, and earning power, has suddenly
plummeted?

In the case of Cone, odds are The Boss is not displeased with the
prospect of getting him for one more season at what amounts to a
no-risk number.

It is no secret that before this season, Steinbrenner would have
preferred, say, Chuck Finley for three years at $10 million per than
Cone at $12 million for one.

If he were the kind of guy to say "I told you so," you know he'd be
saying that to his GM, Brian Cashman, and his superscout, Gene
Michael, right about now.

But The Boss isn't like that. Instead, he's giving Cone a fair shot at
making the team, at the kind of money some players - OK, rookies -
would leap at.

And to Cone's credit, he understands better than most that what he did
last year, or even last week, means nothing compared to what his team
figures he can do for them tomorrow.

He knew a paycut was coming, and he is willing to swallow this one,
which is a whopper by any team's standards.

"Just get me into camp," Cone has told members of the Yankees. He just
wants a chance to pitch again, at any price. He doesn't want his
career to end on the note that last season ended on for him, before
the Yankees entrusted him with what might have been the most important
out of the World Series.

To the fans, getting Piazza to pop out in a pivotal one-run game was a
priceless moment.

But to the Yankees, it was worth a heck of a lot less. Precisely a
half-million bucks, and one more shot for David Cone to prove there
are a lot more outs like that one left in his arm.

--
susan peters ~ [email protected]

Good Morning All!!

When one reads this quote:
>"Just get me into camp," Cone has told members of the Yankees. He just
wants a chance to pitch again, at any price. He doesn't want his
career to end on the note that last season ended on for him, before
the Yankees entrusted him with what might have been the most important
out of the World Series.

awwww.. how can you not want to bring back!!!

Susan... great article!!!  oh.. and btw... I have NO idea why we'd have to
wait until May 1 to sign Coney if they don't reach a deal by the 7th!!  I
susspect it's yet another cruel reason to punish us coney fans (hee-hee) ...
uggh... I really don't think I could wait that long!!  Spring Training would
be long over and we'd be into the regular season by then.. it just doesn't
make sense!!

oh well.. keep sending those updates!!
Laura

I think they should definetly sign him back! I think it will happen,
since he said he would wanna come back for any price. If we get 
Mussina...Think of the possible rotation we'd have: Duque, Clemens, 
Pettitte, Mussina, and Coney! Talk to you all later,
Eyde

Hey Laura, about why we'd have to wait until May to sign Coney if we don't
sign him by December 7th, that's because he's a free agent.  And if the
team the FA last had a contract with doesn't re-sign him by December
7th, then the team loses the right to negotiate with him until May of next
season.  I'm not sure when and why this rule came into being, but that's
the way it is.

Anyway, while the author is referring to the deal offered Cone as an
example of the hardball nature of the business side of baseball, I doubt
Cone himself is that offended by the offer.  Steve Fehr is a tough agent
but no Scott Boras, and Cone seems to take more responsibility for
himself,  much more than a certain kid in Seattle. ;o)   Coney knows
he didn't earn the $12 mill this season, but perhaps he will across
two seasons.  Many would say that the Yankees would be justified in not
even giving him a second chance.  But I'm not ready to give up on dear
"Sweet David"...

I must admit, I was preparing myself for saying goodbye to Coney, but now
that I have renewed hope I'll be crossing my fingers, toes, eyes, etc...

-- Akino
aka BG (o:P

Thanks BG, for clearing things up... I hope they can reach a decision by the
7th for all of us Coney fans!!

Are you back in NY yet???  Have a great Holiday weekend.. and enjoy your
time off from school, you've earned it!!!!

I am so excited to be coming to NY... not excited about the 6:00 am flight
tomorrow morning tho!

Laura

http://www.geocities.com/coney36_nyy/

Hey everyone!  I actually tried to send a message last night, but I guess
it didn't go through...anyhow, the article was fabulous Susan...it was so
emotional...parts of it made me smile and parts made me want to cry!!  I
do hate the cruel, business side of baseball...it seems to take away from
the beauty of the sport.  I prefer the light of loyalty which is one of
the reasons I adore Cone so much--because of his dedication and
loyalty....you just don't see it that much in baseball today...

Akino explained that wacky rule very well, and I don't really understand
why that rule exists...it probably has something to do with giving the
other teams a fair chance to persue a free-agent seriously without having
to deal with the competition of the player's current home team.  Like last
year, it was rumored the Indians and the Mets were interested in Cone, but
they were not going to make him any offers until he cut his ties with the
Yankees...and Cone and the Yankees had us sitting on pins and needles last
year too, with the cut-off being Dec. 7th and Cone finally signing on Dec.
6th....Conveniently enough, my birthday is Dec. 7th...and Cone re-signing
was the greatest gift ever! ;)  Think he'll get me the same thing this
year? <heehee> Let's hope so!! :)


I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving, and keep everything crossed for
Sweet David!! ;)

Take care! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                     --KC <<<<:)

Here's an excerpt from an on-line chat with Jayson Stark of ESPN:

ESPN.com senior baseball writer Jayson Stark recently stopped by for a
chat session to take your questions on the latest rumblings in the
baseball world.

Stark tackled nearly everything on the free-agent front, including
where Alex Rodriguez, Mike Mussina and many of the other big names
might land this offseason.

In case you missed the November 28 chat, the following is an edited
transcript...

Craig: With the Yankees likely to sign Mussina who do you think will
be their No.5 starter next year and could you please rank Randy
Choate, Ryan Bradley and Adrian Hernandez along with projecting when
they might arrive in the majors?

Jayson Stark: The Yankees' current plan is to sign David Cone for
between $500,000 and $1 million and give him a chance to show next
spring he can still help. If you look at his hits per nine innings and
strikeouts per nine innings, they would seem to indicate he still has
something left. And he's an important figure on that team. If he can't
pitch, I would expect them to go out and trade for some veteran No. 5
starter at the end of spring training to buy time until El Duquecito
is ready. I think Choate and Bradley have almost dropped off their
immediate radar screen. They're very high right now on Alex Graman and
Randy Keisler, and I would expect to see one of them in the big
leagues before Choate or Bradley. But Hernandez is viewed as first in
line.

----------

Well it's nothing new, but it's nice to see him mentioned! The only
other recent news on David is from the Post, which says the Mets are
interested in him (shudder!). Here's the link to that story if you
missed it:

http://www.nypostonline.com/sports/mets/17261.htm


--
susan peters ~ [email protected]

...but due to a lack of Coney articles recently, I felt we needed something 
to keep this court going, so here's one from last year from the Sporting 
News.  Says some  stuff about him and his marriage (now KC's ears perk up) 
you might be interested in, if you haven't heard it already...
~PEN~

David Cone's second chance
OCTOBER 13, 1999 

Jon Heyman
Newsday

NEW YORK -- David Cone recently gave revealing answers to a magazine about 
difficulties in his marriage, but Cone figures the backlash can't be so bad. 
"Hey, I've been in the mud before," Cone said, smiling. 

True enough. Back in what seems like another lifetime, another career, Cone 
easily survived some of the more sordid, embarrassing episodes a public 
figure can endure. Very little has seemed to bother Cone over the years, and 
that might be why he's one of the more clutch performers of this generation. 
It is also likely the real reason manager Joe Torre made him a surprising 
choice over Andy Pettitte to pitch tonight's Game 2 of the ALCS. 

Everyone will tell you how much Cone has changed since his Mets days. And he 
has, to some degree. Two differences between the Mets' Cone and the Yankees' 
Cone is that he toned down his answers and spruced up his image. But after a 
rough couple months pitching, he has let his guard down twice in a month. 

As a Met, he was famous for saying too much. Like the time he spoke 
derisively about Dodgers pitcher Jay Howell during the 1988 NLCS. Some Mets 
execs still foolishly blame him for costing them the playoffs with his words. 
"Mike Scioscia had something to do with that," Cone noted. 

As a Yankee, he has become much more cautious on several fronts. While he and 
Keith Hernandez and Darryl Strawberry came to symbolize the excesses of the 
Mets-he lived as fast as he threw -Cone has positioned himself as the wise 
elder statesman of the Yankees. The question about how much a person can 
change was left open after he fell back into his talkative ways. As 
Strawberry proved in much more serious circumstances, anyone can revert. 

Cone talked about the troubles of his marriage to Lynn to New York magazine, 
and he wondered aloud a few days ago about his marriage to the Yankees to a 
group of beat writers, including one from Newsday. On that day, he questioned 
whether he'd be a Yankee next year. 

On one hand, he says he regrets opening his mouth. On the other hand, he 
wonders whether making those comments -- the ones regarding his Yankees 
career, anyway -- might help him pitch better. He felt a load the size of 
Cecil Fielder lift from his chest. 

"It's been a tough second half, and I haven't handled it really well," Cone 
said yesterday in the hallway between the press room and the clubhouse. "At 
the All-Star break, I thought I was going to have a really good year. I still 
feel like I had a solid year, but it wasn't what I expected at the halfway 
point." He was 12-9, but his 3.44 ERA was still second best to Boston's Pedro 
Martinez (2.07). 

Cone blames himself for his second-half blues. He thinks he was adversely 
affected by pitching a perfect game, which if true, is funny when you think 
about it. Here is a man whose face was plastered all over the tabloids after 
a bullpen indiscretion that is too embarrassing to mention in a family 
newspaper. 

Here is a man who's been waist-deep in the mud. 

"It bothers me that I didn't handle it better. I let things affect me 
emotionally when I shouldn't have -- mainly, where am I going to play, and 
what's my future, and why was I not more consistent in the second half when I 
had such a great start," Cone said. 

Married several years, Cone questioned his readiness for marriage in the 
magazine article. Yet, Cone said no personal travails played a role in the 
steep dropoff in his performance after his perfect game on July 18 against 
Montreal. He was 2-5 with a 4.82 ERA after that. 

Cone said that while he was fit physically, "all the questions about my 
physical well-being wore on me." It doesn't seem right that one of our 
toughest athletes should be done in by worries about a contract and questions 
about injuries. It's one thing if there are injuries. But questions about 
injuries? In some games, Cone's fastball was clocked at 85 mph. His control 
was woeful at times. The combination of poor velocity and command will do in 
a pitcher, no matter how much guile he has. Was he going through a dead-arm 
period, as a pitcher will do? Or are 36 years and three shoulder surgeries 
finally catching up to him? Cone will tell you it was a mistake to have 
spoken about his marriage -- "it wasn't the best thing I ever did," he says 
-- or his career. Yet, he thinks that sspeaking about his anxiety regarding 
his career has helped him. He hasn't stopped thinking about whether this will 
be his last year in pinstripes (he has a one-year, $8-million contract). He 
doesn't have a clue. "As Goose Gossage once said, 'Ask the big fellow,' " 
Cone noted. To be accurate, Gossage actually wanted to quiz "the fat man." 
But we all know who it is, in either case. 

"I'm better now. I'm definitely better than I was a couple weeks ago," Cone 
said. "Getting it all out helped." Torre isn't anxious to equal Cone's candor 
-- not with Pettitte's feelings potentiially at stake. Torre said something 
about more rest for the Game 2 starter than the Game 4 starter, and that 
sounds like nothing more than camouflage. The real difference between the 
starters in Games 2 and 4 is that the one in Game 2 might be called upon to 
start two games. 

The reasons probably have more to do with Cone's pedigree -- 16 career 
postseason starts, a 6-3 record -- and Cone's presence. If the Yankees are to 
win their third title in four years, they're going to need Cone to do well, 
the reasoning goes. 

"David may not have his sharpness, may not have his good fastball; we never 
know that from time to time," Torre said. "But he finds a way to get it 
done."

Mike Mussina led the AL in innings pitched and was third in strikeouts
last season.

Congrats to us all!!  It looks like our chances of picking up our
*beloved* Coney have just sky-rocketed!!!  It's beginning to look a lot like
Christmas (and Hanukah is coming, too!!!), and what an early present that
would be!!

YankeeCindy
Royal Bat Girl

Here's an excerpt from the NY Times today. The article begins by
saying the signing of Messina could have a domino effect on the
signing of David Cone...


In addition, the Yankees also believe that signing Mussina could pave
the way for Cone to make a decision about his future. The Yankees have
offered Cone a contract for about $500,000 with an opportunity to make
more through incentive clauses. Conde, who was 4-14 with a 6.91 ERA
this past season, has until next Thursday to decide if he want to sign
with the Yankess.

If the 37-year-old Cone resigned with the Yankess, he would be the
fifth starter in a powerful rotation and the expectations would not be
so great as he tried to gain redemption. Conde could take his time
trying to regain his form and would give the Yankees an even more
formidable quintet if he bounced back.

But if Cone signed with the Mets, there would be much more expected of
him. The former Met and Yankee would be trying to help the Mets
overtake the world champions. Cone would not be given as much leeway
on the Mets. GM Steve Phillips, who has opening for three starters,
said he has not spoken with Steve Fehr, Cone's agent.

Cone realizes that if he founders with the Yankees, he would possible
be viewed as a great champion who simple fizzleda tht the end. But if
lCone goesto the Mets and struggles, he would probably be seen as a
pitcher who sputtered in his last two stops.

"He believes he's going to come back and be David Cone," said Fehr,
who refused to discuss whether Mussina's signing would influence Cone.
"He doesn't want to be a setup guy."
------------

Also, if you missed Brian Cashman on WFAN after the Moose press
conference, he had some comments on signing David:

We'd love to have him back. We're hopeful; it's up to David. We're
having ongoing discussions. We have a great relationship with Steve
Fehr and with David, but in the free agent market anything can happen.


--
susan peters ~ [email protected]

http://www.geocities.com/coney36_nyy/

Hey everyone!  What fabulous news for the Yankees and most likely for
Cone...I do hope they get it settled before the 7th...it's only a week
away!!!  I mean it sounds like both parties are satisfied with this
alleged $500,000 deal...so why don't they ink it already? :)

Have a good weekend! ~ ~ ~ ~
                      --KC <<<<:)

By RONALD BLUM
AP Sports Writer 
November 30, 2000 

NEW YORK (AP) -- Now that the Yankees have Mike Mussina, they seem to
be turning their attention to David Cone. 

``I don't think there's any question we'd like to have Coney come
back,'' manager Joe Torre said Thursday. ``We're definitely interested
in that because I think there are wins there.'' 

New York heads into spring training with four-fifths of its rotation
comprised of Roger Clemens (13-8, 3.70 ERA), Andy Pettitte (19-9,
4.35), Orlando Hernandez (12-13, 4.51) and Mussina (11-15, 3.79 for
Baltimore). 

Cone slumped to 4-14 with a 6.91 ERA last season, but Torre thought he
was returning to form before dislocating his left shoulder Sept. 5 at
Kansas City. 

He pitched just twice in the postseason -- one inning at Seattle in
the AL championship series and one-third of an inning against the Mets
in the World Series, when he retired Mike Piazza in Game 4. 

The Yankees have discussed a deal in which Cone would get a small
guarantee, perhaps as low as $500,000, and have the chance to earn
substantially more in performance bonuses. 

Cone's agent, Steve Fehr, has not gone into detailed negotiations yet.


``There's not much to update,'' he said Thursday. 

Cone likely must make a decision by Dec. 7. The Yankees aren't likely
to offer salary arbitration because he made $12 million this year, and
free agents not offered arbitration can't re-sign with their former
teams from Dec. 8 to April 30. 

New York appears likely to offer arbitration to pitchers Denny Neagle
and Jeff Nelson. The Yankees want Nelson back -- they offered $9
million for three years -- and could always deal Neagle if he accepts.


Because of the Dec. 7 deadline, they are likely to want decisions next
week on infielder Luis Sojo and pitcher Dwight Gooden. 

Both are wanted back, and the Yankees already have held some
preliminary discussions with the agent for Sojo, whose hit won Game 5
of the World Series. Gooden is insurance against injuries. 

If Cone doesn't return, the Yankees would either sign another pitcher
or find a fifth starter from within. Cuban defector Adrian Hernandez
and Ramiro Mendoza, coming off shoulder surgery, are possibilities. 

In the meantime, the Yankees were ecstatic they had signed Mussina. 

``The outlook of players about playing in New York has changed because
of what this team has accomplished,'' said Paul O'Neill, among several
Yankees who issued statements through the team. ``He's a No. 1 starter
who doesn't have to be a No. 1 anymore, and that's why we win.'' 

Yankees pitchers were especially effusive with their praise. 

``It's awesome. I feel like I did back to when I was at the University
of Texas,'' Clemens said. ``Instead of rebuilding, we would reload. In
all my years as a professional, I don't know that I've ever been this
excited for the start of a spring training. This type of move jump
starts the body toward spring training. It gets the adrenaline
pumping, and it's still only November.'' 

The Yankees head to next year trying to become only the third team to
win four straight World Series titles, a feat accomplished only by the
Yankees from 1936-39 and the Yankees from 1949-53. 

``We just seem to be able to pick up quality players to take us to the
highest level and reach our goal,'' Bernie Williams said. ``With Mike
now joining our team, we have the chance to do something very special.
We have four aces in a five-man rotation and it's comforting to know
that we have a special pitcher taking the mound for us every day.'' 

Torre said he hasn't started to think about whether he wants to manage
after the 2001 season. He said last week that an indication for him
would be if he starts getting excited about the upcoming season by
January or February. ``This certainly heats things up,'' he said,
watching Mussina wear Yankees pinstripes at the news conference. 


--
susan peters ~ [email protected]

http://www.geocities.com/coney36_nyy

Hi there...Thanks Susan and Anne-Marie for sending us those articles, they
pretty much went in opposite directions though, didn't they?  I mean in
Susan's article everything sounded so optimistic in bringing Cone back,
yet the other one illustrated almost an idea of disinterest.  And what's
this about...:

"The Bombers would like to bring him back for a base salary of $500,000
with incentive clauses, but according to sources close to the situation,
the veteran right-hander has not been receptive to such an offer."

According to many past articles, pretty much any offer from the Yankees
(within reason) is acceptable for Cone...didn't he just say, "Just get me
into camp"??

Hmmm...I'm wondering if they will even have this decided by the 7th, and
if they don't I would hope they'd do the arbitration thing to buy more
time to negotiate.  Gads, if the Mets offer Cone a "better deal" per se,
do you think he would take it over the Yankees'??  I must say I would be
very surprised if he did...! 

                               --KC <<<<:/

Jeff Nelson signed with the Mariners:_(
Check out the story:


http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2000/1201/915521.html

Verrrry interesting...and nerve-wracking.  Frankly, I 
think that is a plant by his agent or other concerned 
parties hoping to get a nibble for more than $500,000, 
but I still do think he'll be back (I hope, I hope, I 
hope)!

Keeping the fingers and toes crossed...:)

Hey All

Wow, after being in NY longer than anticipated I realized.. what did I do
before computers were invented!!??  However,  I was gald to be in NY when
they signed Mussina,, but (as #1 Coneyfan can tell you all) I was very
panicky about all the articles (or lack of) I read about David.. including
that awful one in the Post claiming that he might possibly be going to the
Mutts, after having dinner w/John Franco (of course I had to consider the
source, but you just never know).

A friend of mine at work suggested that if this thing goes to arbitration it
might be because the Player's Association wants it to and not David (altho-
he ultimately can refuse if he wants) but I think Ally had mentioned his
agent might be holding out for more. After all, his agent (I believe) was
the head of the Player's Association at one time which David also was big
into- so who knows... I guess like the rest of you guys I want to believe
that he truly wants to stay w/us!!

I've read on various forums all those who believe that he's just in it for
the money.. I hope he signs w/us just to prove them wrong!!-

Well just wanted to check-in and give you my thoughts (whatever they are
worth)... UGH... David don't break my heart... please come back!!!


Laura