Barry Bonds' 90 RBIs was the fewest by an NL MVP winner
since Barry Larkin drove in 66 in 1995.
Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/
Here is the world champion of 2002-2003
Source: http://sportsline.com/mlb/teams/page/FLA
First Headline: Castillo, Lowell offered extensions
The FLorida Marlins',signed Luis Castillo and are close to signing Lowell. Later that day Beinfest, added that the Marlins are close to presenting catcher Ivan Rodriguez with a multi-year deal. The three were key components in the Marlins winning the World Series for the second time in franchise history. There were no specifics on how long the contracts were or how much money was involved, all that Beinfest said, the offers were fair. The general manager said although he wants a winning team, he doesn't see any reason why he cant have the same, or better team then the one of the 2002-2003 champions. The payroll of the 2002-2003 was well below the league average, it was at the bottom of the leauge, and thats what Beinfest wants to do this year (2003-2004), while signing key players such as Castillo, Lowell, and Ivan Rodriguez. As of late Tuesday night, Beinfest wasn't presented with a 2004 budget. He still doesnt know what the payroll is but he doesnt expect it to be any higher then the payroll of lat year (2002-2003).
Second Headline: Escobar
signs deal with Angels
Free agent pitcher obtains three-year contract
with club
The Anahiem Angels couldn't Beat Kelvim Escobar in 2003, and they won't have try and beat him in 2004. Escobar, will get $750,000 more this year then last year. He will be wearing No. 47 (as in Anahiem). He wore No. 45 last year with the Toronto Blue Jays. "I'm very happy and very excited to be here," said Escobar, who will be turning 28 the first week of the 2004 season, he quoted. He ended up pitching a career-high 180 1/3 innings in 2002-2003.
Stoneman opened the press conference by stating one concrete fact.
"He's not going to be bouncing back and forth here," Stoneman said. "He's going to be in our starting rotation."
Escobar excelled in that role for most of 2003, going 13-9 with a 4.29 ERA overall and striking out 159 batters while walking 78. He was dominant in three games against the Angels, two of them starts.
Escobar, whose fastball can reach 98 mph, also features a cut fastball, a split-fingered fastball and an occasional curveball. He went 1-0 against Anaheim with 13 1/3 shutout innings in 2003, giving up six hits to the Angels and striking out 10.
The Angels batted .136 against Escobar in 2003, the lowest batting average for any team off the 6-foot-1, 210-pound native of La Guaria, Venezuela. Escobar pitched six innings or more in all but four of his final 23 starts.
He also sported an 8-2 record with a 2.84 ERA and a .224 batting-average-against on grass fields, of which Edison Field is one.
He wasn't so successful on artificial turf, going 5-7 with a 5.51 ERA and a .305 batting average against. Escobar had a 2.76 ERA away from SkyDome last year.
Stoneman said in September that the Angels' No. 1 priority in the offseason would be to sign a front-line starting pitcher to join Jarrod Washburn, John Lackey, Ramon Ortiz and Aaron Sele, allowing Scot Shields to go back to his role as long reliever.
After the recently completed general manager meetings in Phoenix, Stoneman said his second task would be to get an "outfield bat."
With the signing of Escobar, as opposed to Andy Pettitte or Bartolo Colon, Stoneman has more money to work with.
Pettitte and Colon would most likely be seeking about double the yearly salary of Escobar, so Stoneman can now make an offer to an outfielder, such as Shannon Stewart, and possibly go after an impact shortstop.
Miguel Tejada and Kazuo Matsui have reportedly been players of interest to Anaheim.
That's why Stoneman was in a good mood Monday after outfitting Escobar with a new Angels cap and jersey.
"This is a fun way for guys who do what I do to start the offseason," Stoneman said.
"We said our first priority was to improve our starting pitching, and
to be able to fulfill what you're trying to do by signing someone like
Kelvim feels rewarding and fun. I kind of wish the season was starting
a little earlier."
The Boston Herald reported Friday that the Red Sox were prepared to offer a three-year deal to Escobar but didn't want to give him more than $5 million a year. The Blue Jays had offered two years and $10 million.
Escobar said five teams were interested but that he gave his agent, Peter Greenberg, special instructions.
"I told him, 'You better listen to Anaheim, because I really want to be there,'" Escobar said.
"I'm very happy to be a starting pitcher, and knowing I'm going to be here for three years, and with the bullpen we have, I don't have to worry about it," Escobar said.
"I'm very confident in the guys I have behind me."
When asked if he was familiar with any of those guys, he said, "The only one is K-Rod," referring to Venezuelan countryman Francisco Rodriguez, one of the Angels' top relievers.
"Three weeks ago I saw him (in Venezuela) and told him that Anaheim is showing interest, so we might be teammates this year," Escobar said.
"He was very excited."
Escobar also said he was familiar with Angels first-base coach Alfredo Griffin and some of the other coaches.
He said everything else that was attractive about Anaheim was seen from the other side of the field.
"You can see the teamwork, the way the players are," Escobar said. "And the fans, too. Those were they keys to signing here. I heard good things about (manager) Mike (Scioscia) and the front office."
"You hear good things and it helps you make a decision. What I'm doing right now is making the best decision of my life."
Escobar comes to the Angels with one piece of baggage. He is being sued for $8 million for an alleged sexual assault in 2002. Escobar denied the charges in court in Canada. His representatives called the lawsuit "a blatant attempt to extort money."
