Here is the article:
<TABLE height=600 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=484 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=6></TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width=300><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=300 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left>Jocketty seeks "impact" outfielder
By Joe Strauss
<TABLE height=600 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=484 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=6></TD><TD vAlign=top align=left width=300><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=300 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left>Jocketty seeks "impact" outfielder
By Joe Strauss
Of the Post-Dispatch
07/29/2005<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=155 align=left border=0 VALIGN="top"><TBODY><TR><TD>
Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty says he isn't close to making any deals before Sunday's trade deadline, but he is continuing to look around.
(Chris Lee/P-D)
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LOS ANGELES - Rather than just tweak a team that carries its league's best record, Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty confirmed Friday that he is seeking an impact player to shore up an outfield decimated by injuries to right fielder Larry Walker and left fielder Reggie Sanders.
"We're not looking for someone considered an extra outfielder," Jocketty said several hours before the Cardinals opened a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. "We're looking for someone like we found last season in Larry Walker."
Jocketty has discussed the availability of San Diego outfielder Brian Giles with Padres general manager Kevin Towers, according to a source. Giles, like Walker, is a lefthanded hitter whom the Cardinals have long coveted. An apparent snag to a deal has been the Padres' insistence on receiving major-league pitching in return. Jocketty and manager Tony La Russa insisted Friday they do not want to subtract from their current roster to address an outfield need.
"The injuries obviously make a difference in what our objective is going to be," Jocketty said. "But again, the injuries are all short-term. And we still have a pretty good lead. If we had a one- or two-game lead, it would be a different situation."<SCRIPT language=javascript><!-- // beginDisplayAds("Frame1","","");// --></SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.1 src="http://OAS-Central.RealMedia.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_jx.ads/www.stltoday.com/sports/cards/1158569051@Frame1" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> <TABLE style="CLEAR: left; MARGIN-RIGHT: 4px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=left width=160 height=600>
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Believed also to have interest in acquiring bullpen help, Jocketty insisted his priority remains an outfielder.
Jocketty played down mounting speculation that he is close to a deal for Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Matt Lawton, who probably will be moved before Sunday's non-waiver trade deadline.
Lawton, the Pirates' primary leadoff hitter, entered the weekend with a .273 average but a more impressive .378 on-base percentage. A pending free agent, Lawton has hit 10 home runs with 28 doubles but is considered no better than average defensively. Jocketty has assigned special scout Jim Leyland to him, but, according to a club source, the reports are "mixed."
The Cincinnati Reds will pare an outfielder and have discussed Adam Dunn and Austin Kearns with the Chicago Cubs. The Cardinals have interest in Kearns but are reluctant to deal a trove of pitching to land him.
Reds center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. represents an intriguing possibility. Though Jocketty enjoys a degree of financial flexibility, he offered no indication he would apply it for Griffey, who offers a history of acute hamstring problems. Wily Mo Pena is the fourth Reds outfielder considered available.
Jocketty said Friday that he hasn't been contacted by the Boston Red Sox about disgruntled left fielder Manny Ramirez, who requested a trade for the fourth consecutive season this week. Ramirez's contract runs through 2008, and he is owed a balance of more than $64 million.
The New York Mets have surfaced as a potential landing spot for Ramirez; however, Red Sox officials play down the likelihood of finding a partner willing to assume the entire contract.
Discussions with Colorado Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd about outfielder Eric Byrnes did not work out. He was traded to Baltimore on Friday night.
Sensitive to suggestions that Walker's availability was a serious issue earlier this month, the club now appears resigned to his extended absence after he received a third cortisone injection Monday and was put on the disabled list Tuesday retroactive to July 23. La Russa said Friday that he expects catcher Yadier Molina to return from a broken left hand before Walker exits the disabled list.
La Russa also said he believes Walker will return before Sanders and sore-shouldered third baseman Scott Rolen. Asked whether he would "bet his house" on Rolen's return this season, La Russa answered yes. Added Jocketty, "I have no information that would indicate he won't (play this year). Let's put it that way."
Walker's status also remains vague. All parties project his return sometime next month, but the Cardinals are wary of pushing him after a third cortisone injection to ease symptoms related to a herniated disc in his neck. Sources familiar with the situation say there is a possibility a fourth shot could be administered, if necessary. The club has been advised against additional shots.
"The more we ease him back, the better off we will be," Jocketty said.
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Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty says he isn't close to making any deals before Sunday's trade deadline, but he is continuing to look around.
(Chris Lee/P-D)
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left background=http://images.stltoday.com/stltoday/pixels/336699.gif height=1>
LOS ANGELES - Rather than just tweak a team that carries its league's best record, Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty confirmed Friday that he is seeking an impact player to shore up an outfield decimated by injuries to right fielder Larry Walker and left fielder Reggie Sanders.
"We're not looking for someone considered an extra outfielder," Jocketty said several hours before the Cardinals opened a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. "We're looking for someone like we found last season in Larry Walker."
Jocketty has discussed the availability of San Diego outfielder Brian Giles with Padres general manager Kevin Towers, according to a source. Giles, like Walker, is a lefthanded hitter whom the Cardinals have long coveted. An apparent snag to a deal has been the Padres' insistence on receiving major-league pitching in return. Jocketty and manager Tony La Russa insisted Friday they do not want to subtract from their current roster to address an outfield need.
"The injuries obviously make a difference in what our objective is going to be," Jocketty said. "But again, the injuries are all short-term. And we still have a pretty good lead. If we had a one- or two-game lead, it would be a different situation."<SCRIPT language=javascript><!-- // beginDisplayAds("Frame1","","");// --></SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.1 src="http://OAS-Central.RealMedia.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_jx.ads/www.stltoday.com/sports/cards/1158569051@Frame1" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> <TABLE style="CLEAR: left; MARGIN-RIGHT: 4px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=left width=160 height=600>
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Believed also to have interest in acquiring bullpen help, Jocketty insisted his priority remains an outfielder.
Jocketty played down mounting speculation that he is close to a deal for Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Matt Lawton, who probably will be moved before Sunday's non-waiver trade deadline.
Lawton, the Pirates' primary leadoff hitter, entered the weekend with a .273 average but a more impressive .378 on-base percentage. A pending free agent, Lawton has hit 10 home runs with 28 doubles but is considered no better than average defensively. Jocketty has assigned special scout Jim Leyland to him, but, according to a club source, the reports are "mixed."
The Cincinnati Reds will pare an outfielder and have discussed Adam Dunn and Austin Kearns with the Chicago Cubs. The Cardinals have interest in Kearns but are reluctant to deal a trove of pitching to land him.
Reds center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. represents an intriguing possibility. Though Jocketty enjoys a degree of financial flexibility, he offered no indication he would apply it for Griffey, who offers a history of acute hamstring problems. Wily Mo Pena is the fourth Reds outfielder considered available.
Jocketty said Friday that he hasn't been contacted by the Boston Red Sox about disgruntled left fielder Manny Ramirez, who requested a trade for the fourth consecutive season this week. Ramirez's contract runs through 2008, and he is owed a balance of more than $64 million.
The New York Mets have surfaced as a potential landing spot for Ramirez; however, Red Sox officials play down the likelihood of finding a partner willing to assume the entire contract.
Discussions with Colorado Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd about outfielder Eric Byrnes did not work out. He was traded to Baltimore on Friday night.
Sensitive to suggestions that Walker's availability was a serious issue earlier this month, the club now appears resigned to his extended absence after he received a third cortisone injection Monday and was put on the disabled list Tuesday retroactive to July 23. La Russa said Friday that he expects catcher Yadier Molina to return from a broken left hand before Walker exits the disabled list.
La Russa also said he believes Walker will return before Sanders and sore-shouldered third baseman Scott Rolen. Asked whether he would "bet his house" on Rolen's return this season, La Russa answered yes. Added Jocketty, "I have no information that would indicate he won't (play this year). Let's put it that way."
Walker's status also remains vague. All parties project his return sometime next month, but the Cardinals are wary of pushing him after a third cortisone injection to ease symptoms related to a herniated disc in his neck. Sources familiar with the situation say there is a possibility a fourth shot could be administered, if necessary. The club has been advised against additional shots.
"The more we ease him back, the better off we will be," Jocketty said.
