Friday, Feb. 6, 2004 | 10:48 a.m.
As his time without a Major League Baseball team ekes into a fifth month, Greg Maddux continues to refuse to add fuel to public speculation about whose uniform he will be wearing when he wins his 300th game.
For a few weeks, it was surely the Chicago Cubs. Baltimore was out. Seattle might be in. St. Louis was out, but now the Cardinals appear to be back in the mix.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, with an uncertain front office situation after the ownership transition to Frank McCourt, are also supposedly expressing interest in Maddux.
However, outsiders only need to have met Maddux once or twice to get an idea of how intensely he guards his privacy. He didn't even muster a chuckle Thursday when asked about the latest rumor.
USA Today's Sport Weekly reported in its current weekly edition that Maddux, a Valley High graduate and four-time Cy Young Award winner, told friends he expected to sign with the Cubs this week.
Again, anyone who knows Maddux ...
"People write what they want to write," Maddux said. "I'd love to call 'em up and tell them they're full of it, but I know it will lead to 20 other questions down the road. You fall into the trap.
"I let 'em write, and say and do, what they will. I'll play for somebody, sooner or later. When that time comes, I'll be more than happy to talk about the club I sign with."
Out of deference to the teams that are in the hunt for Maddux's services, but won't acquire him, he will not discuss details of negotiations or reveal any delicate figures.
"I understand it's a story and people want to read about it, but it's not right to cause any embarrassment to clubs that are offering me money," Maddux said. "I would love to tell everyone what I'm up to, but it's not fair to negotiate in the press.
"Anything said or written in the paper didn't come from me, and I want to keep it that way out of respect for the teams I don't sign with. The last thing I want to do is make someone look bad. That's not my intention."
Maddux confirmed that he is interested in four teams and that he does not forsee signing with someone for another 10 days at the earliest, or late February at the latest.
Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to the Cubs' spring training facility in Mesa, Ariz., on Feb. 18. Most of the other teams' pitchers and catchers are slated to start on the 19th or 20th. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry offered Maddux a two-year deal, believed to be worth approximately $11 million, on Jan. 13. Hendry didn't set a deadline for a decision, and the Cubs hadn't received a counter-offer by press time.
The Chicago Sun-Times has reported that Hendry might be open to pumping that two-year offer to $14 million or $15 million, if pressed by St. Louis and Los Angeles.
In St. Louis, center fielder Jim Edmonds and closer Jason Isringhausen have agreed to defer money from their 2004 salaries, creating more salary leverage for the Cardinals to chase a free agent.
Pitcher Matt Morris, among other Cardinals, might also accept a deferment to enable St. Louis general manager Walt Jocketty to tender an offer to Boras.
Cardinals majority owner Bill DeWitt Jr. watched his pitching staff finish 11th in the National League last season.
"What we've said all along is that we would have interest in a player like Greg Maddux," DeWitt Jr. told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch this week. "(But) the chances of him signing for what we would have to offer would be, I think, remote at this point."
Even the Post-Dispatch, though, took some apparent liberties, reporting that Maddux is "hopeful" of signing before next weekend and is willing to accept a "back-loaded contract" and might be open to "deferred money."
The Post-Dispatch also reported that Maddux earned $17.25 million last season in his final tour with the Atlanta Braves. He actually made $14.75 million in 2003. According to the Sun-Times, Maddux is seeking a multiyear pact at $9 million per season.
"My intention is to play where I want to play, and to play for a contract that's respectable," Maddux said. "I'm not out to make anyone look bad or milk 'em for an extra dime."
In the meantime, his offseason highlight occurred in December, when daughter Amanda awoke without the migraine headache that had plagued her for a couple of months.
Ten doctors offered 10 different diagnoses. Ultimately, Maddux and his wife were told that the malady is not uncommon in young girls, and Amanda has suffered occasional flare-ups since December.
Maddux, as usual, has worked on the finer points of his golf game over the winter, and he and brother Mike teamed up with two others to finish third in a recent Pro-Am at Red Rock Country Club.
Each won $92 gift certificates.
With the seemingly slow rate of his current negotiations, maybe the 37-year-old pitcher who's 11 victories shy of 300 will hang up his cleats, at least for a season, if he doesn't receive an offer to his liking.
Bull, said Maddux, who began throwing a baseball around his back yard a few weeks ago.
"I don't have any plans to retire," he said. "Never crossed my mind. If anyone thinks I'll retire ... I still feel like I can play the game. To me, 300 wins is a big accomplishment, but I'd like to think I'll win a lot more than 300.
"I don't think I'm anywhere close to retiring. I'm ready to start throwing at some hitters, rather than a glove, and I'm looking forward to going to spring training, whether it's in Florida or Arizona."
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