Maddux doesn’t want to leave West Coast
By Steve Henson, Yahoo! Sports Jul 29, 15:33 EDT
SAN DIEGO – As great a pitcher as Greg Maddux has been for 23 years, he might be a better poker player. But he finally tipped his hand in a meeting with San Diego Padres general manager Kevin Towers on Tuesday.
Maddux reiterated his desire to be traded only to a team on the West Coast. Several teams from the Midwest and East Coast have expressed serious interest, but Towers will continue to focus on dealing the future Hall-of-Fame pitcher to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels or Arizona Diamondbacks.
Towers and Dodgers GM Ned Colletti are expected to talk Wednesday, and the Dodgers are open to a deal.
“You can never have too much starting pitching,” said a Dodgers source. “Even going to a six-man rotation is a possibility this time of year.”
The Angels don’t need a starter and the Diamondbacks – who qualify as a West Coast team for Maddux’s purposes – are wary because the 42-year-old right-hander never has pitched well at Chase Field. The Diamondbacks do, however, need a starter because struggling <A href="http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7936/">Micah Owings has piched himself out of the rotation.
Towers had hoped Maddux might agree to be traded to a contender in the National League Central, or to the Chicago White Sox. Maddux’s brother, Mike, is the Milwaukee Brewers’ pitching coach. Maddux began his career with the Chicago Cubs and returned there from 2004 until being traded to the Dodgers in July 2006. St. Louis and Chicago are reasonably short flights from his homes in San Diego and Las Vegas.
Either New York team could use Maddux, who despite his 4-8 record has pitched as well this season as he has since 2002. The Tampa Bay Rays also might have interest because Maddux’s positive clubhouse influence on young pitchers is well-documented.
“He certainly can help a contending club,” Towers said. “He’s a class act.”
Maddux wouldn’t talk about expanding his list.
“That’s why we’ll close the door behind us,” he said through a sly grin. “It’s not something I’d discuss publicly. I’ll do what’s best for the organization.”
Tip his hand, no. Tip his cap, yes, Maddux did Monday night, acknowledging an ovation from the Petco Park crowd as he left the mound in the sixth inning. The Padres won 8-5, and Maddux snapped a 14-start winless streak and notched career victory No. 351.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next couple of days, and I was just letting the fans know I appreciate them,” he said.
He wants to play another season and he wants to play in San Diego. So he could agree to go to a contender now, enabling the Padres to get a player or two in return, then re-sign with San Diego during the offseason.
“Conceivably, yes, you are right, that could happen,” he said.
Maddux has fond memories of the last time he was traded at midseason. He was rejuvenated by his move from the Cubs to the Dodgers in 2006, going 6-3 with a 3.30 ERA in 12 starts after the trade and helping L.A. make the playoffs. Dodgers pitchers Derek Lowe, Brad Penny and Chad Billingsley said the time spent with Maddux was a career-altering revelation.
“I was surprised when I was traded by Chicago, and it worked out,” Maddux said. “So I have no expectations. You learn from past experiences. I’ve prepared myself not to be surprised if it does happen.”
At this point, he’s eliminated the possibility of a surprise. Unless he changes his mind Wednesday or Thursday, the only places he’d go are to the Dodgers, Angels or Diamondbacks.
By Steve Henson, Yahoo! Sports Jul 29, 15:33 EDT
SAN DIEGO – As great a pitcher as Greg Maddux has been for 23 years, he might be a better poker player. But he finally tipped his hand in a meeting with San Diego Padres general manager Kevin Towers on Tuesday.
Maddux reiterated his desire to be traded only to a team on the West Coast. Several teams from the Midwest and East Coast have expressed serious interest, but Towers will continue to focus on dealing the future Hall-of-Fame pitcher to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels or Arizona Diamondbacks.
Towers and Dodgers GM Ned Colletti are expected to talk Wednesday, and the Dodgers are open to a deal.
“You can never have too much starting pitching,” said a Dodgers source. “Even going to a six-man rotation is a possibility this time of year.”
The Angels don’t need a starter and the Diamondbacks – who qualify as a West Coast team for Maddux’s purposes – are wary because the 42-year-old right-hander never has pitched well at Chase Field. The Diamondbacks do, however, need a starter because struggling <A href="http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7936/">Micah Owings has piched himself out of the rotation.
Towers had hoped Maddux might agree to be traded to a contender in the National League Central, or to the Chicago White Sox. Maddux’s brother, Mike, is the Milwaukee Brewers’ pitching coach. Maddux began his career with the Chicago Cubs and returned there from 2004 until being traded to the Dodgers in July 2006. St. Louis and Chicago are reasonably short flights from his homes in San Diego and Las Vegas.
Either New York team could use Maddux, who despite his 4-8 record has pitched as well this season as he has since 2002. The Tampa Bay Rays also might have interest because Maddux’s positive clubhouse influence on young pitchers is well-documented.
“He certainly can help a contending club,” Towers said. “He’s a class act.”
Maddux wouldn’t talk about expanding his list.
“That’s why we’ll close the door behind us,” he said through a sly grin. “It’s not something I’d discuss publicly. I’ll do what’s best for the organization.”
Tip his hand, no. Tip his cap, yes, Maddux did Monday night, acknowledging an ovation from the Petco Park crowd as he left the mound in the sixth inning. The Padres won 8-5, and Maddux snapped a 14-start winless streak and notched career victory No. 351.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next couple of days, and I was just letting the fans know I appreciate them,” he said.
He wants to play another season and he wants to play in San Diego. So he could agree to go to a contender now, enabling the Padres to get a player or two in return, then re-sign with San Diego during the offseason.
“Conceivably, yes, you are right, that could happen,” he said.
Maddux has fond memories of the last time he was traded at midseason. He was rejuvenated by his move from the Cubs to the Dodgers in 2006, going 6-3 with a 3.30 ERA in 12 starts after the trade and helping L.A. make the playoffs. Dodgers pitchers Derek Lowe, Brad Penny and Chad Billingsley said the time spent with Maddux was a career-altering revelation.
“I was surprised when I was traded by Chicago, and it worked out,” Maddux said. “So I have no expectations. You learn from past experiences. I’ve prepared myself not to be surprised if it does happen.”
At this point, he’s eliminated the possibility of a surprise. Unless he changes his mind Wednesday or Thursday, the only places he’d go are to the Dodgers, Angels or Diamondbacks.
