Diamond Notes: January 2000 Archives

This column has been written for over a week. All the details were accurate. All that was lacking was confirmation from the team. Unfortunately, that did not come. Finally on January 28, the Arizona Diamondbacks announced the signing of Brian Anderson to a three year deal. BA will be paid $11 Million in salary. The contract is laden with incentive clauses which could give Brian an extra $1.25 Million if he reaches certain milestones. The three-year contract all but insures that Anderson will be a major part of the Diamondbacks starting rotation for the forseeable future. Anderson seemed pleased with the terms of the contract saying he and his wife felt that Arizona is where he would like to play. With the loss of Andy Benes to the St. Louis Cardinals, Anderson will be among the starting rotation that includes Randy Johnson, Todd Stottlemyre, Omar Daal, and Armando Reynoso. This contract means that all of the Diamondbacks starters are under contract through at least 2001.

With the lack of news coming from the Arizona Diamondbacks, you have to wonder if maybe Jerry Colangelo gave the team the winter off after all the hard work they put in last year. Since the first of January, the Arizona Diamondbacks have posted only two transactions and neither of them were related to the product on the field. All transactions have involved the front office with Bryan Lambe being named a special assistant to the general manager, Scott Geyer was hired as vice president of broadcasting and Gina Giallonardo as the director of marketing. While these are important posts to be filled, it doesn't especially enthuse the fans to start buying tickets to next year's games. Given the holes and questions still surrounding the team after their premature exit from last year's play-offs, you have to wonder if Colangelo's heart is still based in basketball.

With Tony Womack wrapped up for another four years, the Diamondbacks have set their sights on the other three players they have that are eligible for arbitration. First up is Matt Mantei. Mantei solidified the bullpen for the Diamondbacks last season and many feel that he was the key ingredient in the late season charge resulting in the team winning the Western Division championship. Matt must feel the same since he and the team are currently at odds over what he should be paid next season. The Diamondbacks have supposedly offered a three year deal valued around $9 million. Mantei on the other hand feels he is now one of the premier closers in the game and is looking to be paid similar money to what Trevor Hoffman was given in San Diego. Neither side seems willing to compromise. This could become a case where the two sides will need arbitration to solve their differences. This will not sit well with Jerry Colangelo. He has made his feelings known to baseball that the current arbitration process should be abolished.

The Arizona Diamondbacks avoid salary arbitration by signing infielder/outfielder Tony Womack to a 4-year contract extension valued at $17 million. Womack spent much of the 1999 season playing right field for the Diamondbacks after being traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates in February. Current plans have Tony moving back to the infield for the 2000 season taking over the everyday shortstop job. Womack is one of four Diamondbacks players eligible for salary arbitration. The team continues to negotiate with the other three players, Brian Anderson, Andy Fox, and Matt Mantei. The Diamondbacks hope to have all under contract before the middle of January.