Ordonez and Beltran Article

[DBAHO]

Mayb the O's fans will be chanting O-E-O for a while yet,

 

BALTIMORE - It's barely over a month into the 2004 season, but speculation is running rampant that Kansas City Royals center fielder Carlos Beltran is going to be wearing a New York Yankees uniform next year.

 

While it's no secret Kansas City doesn't have the financial wherewithal to prevent the gifted Beltran from leaving as a free agent at season's end, his expected asking price figures to directly impact the White Sox.

 

With current center fielders Bernie Williams and Kenny Lofton nearing the end of the line, Beltran is a natural fit, and New York has the money to sign the 27-year-old star.

 

How much money? Early estimates are at $140 million over eight years.

 

While that figure is probably inflated, right fielder Magglio Ordonez is likely looking for similar money to stay with the White Sox.

 

For as good as he is, Ordonez doesn't quite have Beltran's all-around skills or upside.

 

What Ordonez does have is plenty of interest. The Boston Red Sox almost acquired the four-time all-star in a trade over the winter, and they'll undoubtedly make an offer if Ordonez does hit the free-agent market. Ditto for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners and New York Mets.

 

But look for the Baltimore Orioles to make the strongest push for Ordonez's services.

 

Last off-season, Baltimore owner Peter Angelos spent millions on free agents Miguel Tejada, Javy Lopez and Sidney Ponson.

 

While the Orioles still need pitching help, word is they've already targeted Ordonez as their No. 1 priority.

 

Ordonez has spent his entire professional career with the White Sox and has expressed a strong desire to stay put. But unless the Sox are able to lock up their best player during the season, they have little chance to retain him if he hits the free-agent market.

 

Welcome back: When last seen on the mound, Jon Lieber was starting for the Cubs on Aug. 1, 2002.

 

Following reconstructive elbow surgery at the end of the '02 season and a bout with a strained groin muscle this spring, the 34-year-old Lieber returned to action with the Yankees on Saturday.

 

Despite the 21-month layoff, he looked a lot like the starting pitcher who went 20-6 for the Cubs in 2001.

 

Lieber was dominant against the Royals, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits over 7-plus innings. Of his 91 pitches, 69 found the strike zone.

 

"I don't rank my games, but this one has to be near the top,'' Lieber told reporters after New York's 12-4 win. "I feel like I have a second chance right now, and I want to make the best of it.''

 

Lieber's auspicious return bodes very well for the Yankees, who were stung when starters Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens defected to the Houston Astros.

 

Following a poor start, New York took a seven-game winning streak into Wednesday night's game at Oakland and was tied for first in the AL East.

 

Taking a hit: Not only are the Mariners off to a terrible start, they'll be paying pitcher Kevin Jarvis a hefty sun of money not to play baseball.

 

Jarvis, acquired in a trade from the San Diego Padres, was released Sunday after giving up 3 straight home runs in a loss to the Texas Rangers.

 

Even though the move cost the Mariners $4.75 million, CEO Howard Lincoln didn't hesitate to tell Jarvis and his 8.31 ERA to take a hike.

 

"I knew we had to do something, and I didn't want to wait,'' Lincoln told Seattle reporters. "We can't have that kind of thing.''