Baseball GMs meet for wheeling, dealing

CHICAGO – Instead of swaying palm trees, the roar of 747s greeted baseball’s general managers as they began gathering for their annual meeting.

They’ve come to a hotel near O’Hare International Airport to swap stories and perhaps players, and to start discussions with agents.

Increasing the use video replay among umpires could be a topic when the formal meetings start today, especially after a series of missed calls in the postseason. Video reviews, which began in 2008, are limited to determining whether potential home runs are fair or foul or whether the ball cleared a fence.

“I have been on record as using as much technology as possible for the betterment or our game and to protect the umpires, too,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Monday.

Cashman is comfortable commissioner Bud Selig will protect the game and “make sure that whatever gets implemented is done in the proper way.”

More deals are expected around the winter meetings, to be held in Indianapolis from Dec. 7-10. Three key Yankees are potential free agents: World Series MVP Hideki Matsui, left fielder Johnny Damon and 37-year-old left-hander Andy Pettitte.

New York’s AL East rival, Boston, was busy Monday. The Red Sox exercised their $7.7 million option on Victor Martinez and declined options on Jason Varitek and Alex Gonzalez – although Varitek can exercise a $3 million player option. Boston also agreed to a
$5 million, two-year contract with knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.

Since this year’s GMs meeting lasts only until midday Wednesday, the general managers might not be able to hold as many discussions as they did during past sessions.

“Surprisingly there have been more conversations throughout the playoffs and the World Series than I can remember,” White Sox general manager Ken Williams said last week after his team acquired third baseman Mark Teahen in a trade with Kansas City.

The Cubs already have had a relatively eventful offseason – some of it not so good.

Tom Ricketts and his family were introduced as the new owners and said they would do everything they could to bring a World Series to the franchise after a 101-year drought.