Neagle, Rockies Close to Deal

The price of pitching continues to soar, with sources saying Sunday that free-agent left-hander Denny Neagle is close to a five-year agreement with the Colorado Rockies that will pay him about $10.2 million a year. The elimination of Neagle from the free-agent pitching pool tightens the noose on the Dodgers and Angels, with Andy Ashby, Kevin Appier and Rick Reed the only second-tier veterans continuing to draw much interest--along with the younger Darren Dreifort.

While it is difficult to ascertain what the Angels are up to, a source familiar with the Dodger situation said the loss of Neagle was a significant blow since he seemed to be No. 1 on Chairman Bob Daly’s wish list and that the Dodgers were hopeful that an offer to right-hander Ashby will produce a positive response sometime this week.

“We’ve had substantive talks with the Dodgers, and Andy is now evaluating three or four clubs,” agent Adam Katz said Sunday. “He has four daughters, so the element of location is very important to him. He’s also a very methodical guy, so he’s going to take his time, which is not to say that he won’t make a decision tomorrow or the next day.”

The signing of Neagle, 32, to a contract of more than $50 million would be the latest hit to an escalating market and might ultimately force the Dodgers to meet Dreifort’s price of $55 million for five years, rather than the $45 million they have offered to the 28-year-old right-hander who is 33-34 in three seasons as a starter.

Sources said the Dodgers had offered Neagle $44 million for four years--a higher average than he will receive from the Rockies--but were unwilling to include a fifth year.

The Rockies, of course, are forced to overpay to attract quality pitchers to Coors Field, and they have reportedly made a record eight-year, $112-million offer to Mike Hampton, who has narrowed his list to the Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs and New York Mets.

The Dodgers, while now waiting for an answer from Ashby, have also talked dollars with Reed and Appier, but there is wide competition for Appier, and many industry executives expect the Mets, possibly in jeopardy of losing Hampton, to retain Reed by acquiescing to his contract demands.