Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.sports From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Twins' Puckett is available and expensive as free agent Date: Thu, 29 Oct 92 14:38:17 EST Message-ID: \SE D;SPORTS \SS (WS) \HD Twins' Puckett is available and expensive as free agent \BY FROM COMBINED DISPATCHES Kirby Puckett, who prefers to stay with the Minnesota Twins if they come up with the money, filed for free agency yesterday. The popular outfielder, who has led the Twins to two World Series titles, proposed a $27.5 million, five-year extension in May, but owner Carl Pohlad rejected the deal. Puckett, baseball's first $3 million man, completed a $9 million, three-year deal in 1992. "It's just a formality," Puckett said. "It's just something that I have to do. So, I mean, I filed, and then I guess I can just sit back now and wait and see who's really interested." Puckett was among 15 players who filed yesterday, raising the total to 73. A total of 89 are potentially eligible, including 20 who will find out today if they will be offered salary arbitration or given the opportunity to become free agents. That group includes Oakland pitcher Mike Moore and Atlanta reliever Jeff Reardon. Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox exercised a $260,000 option on pitcher Terry Leach and the Baltimore Orioles exercised a $400,000 option on infielder Tim Hulett. The White Sox declined to offer arbitration to catcher Carlton Fisk and pitcher Charlie Hough, and the Montreal Expos declined to offer arbitration to Bill Krueger. The San Diego Padres placed pitcher Ed Whitson on the voluntary retired list. Also filing were Baltimore outfielder Joe Orsulak, Boston outfielder Tom Brunansky, Detroit outfielder Gary Pettis, New York Yankees pitcher Scott Sanderson, Oakland pitcher Ron Darling, Texas second baseman Al Newman, Toronto pitcher Dave Stieb and outfielder Pat Tabler, Cincinnati pitcher Scott Bankhead and third baseman Darnell Coles, Los Angeles pitchers Roger McDowell and Bob Ojeda, New York Mets shortstop Dick Schofield and San Francisco outfielder Mike Felder. Puckett, 31, hit .329 with 19 homers and 110 RBIs in 1992. He has a .321 career average and has won five Gold Gloves. "We continue to talk to the Twins," said Puckett's agent, Baltimore-based Ron Shapiro. "We also begin to hear from other clubs as to level of interest. We are talking to the Twins regularly and continue to do that." Puckett said during the season that he would enjoy playing for the Orioles at Camden Yards and also is friends with Baltimore shortstop Cal Ripken. However, most observers consider it unlikely that the Orioles could afford Puckett because of the megabucks they are paying Ripken and first baseman Glenn Davis. Puckett led the Twins to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991 and is the most popular player in the club's history. Minnesota general manager Andy MacPhail once said he would be run out of town if he allowed Puckett to leave, and the outfielder has repeatedly said his first choice is to stay. "He hasn't hidden that fact," Shapiro said. "But now that it's come this far, he is not adverse to seeing what's out there. His home is Minnesota, and he loves Minnesota, but if he finds an opportunity out there - the money and the comfort level with the organization and the community - he'll certainly listen. "It's not all business to Kirby. He has feelings and emotions about his community and that has to be factored in. But he has to analyze it as a business issue." This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM