Expos Find Many Suitors

The budget-conscious Montreal Expos were in the spotlight Friday during an otherwise uneventful opening of the baseball winter meetings, keeping clubs on hold while considering blockbuster trade proposals.

Omar Minaya was the most popular general manager at the start of the gathering that ends Monday, meeting late into the evening with teams about the Expos’ top players, including 20-game winner Bartolo Colon, starter Javier Vazquez and second baseman Jose Vidro.

The commissioner’s office, which operates the Expos, instructed Minaya to cut payroll for 2003, so the shopping rush is on. Even clubs that can’t afford the Expos’ prices are affected by the big sale, causing a ripple effect on other proposed deals.

“I’ve heard that I’m holding these meetings hostage,” Min- aya said. “That’s not what I’m trying to do, but I’m not going to make a [quick] trade just because we’re at the winter meetings.”

The Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies have been the most aggressive teams, baseball sources said, making strong proposals for Colon.

In addition to Colon, whom the Expos acquired from the Cleveland Indians in June, Montreal also is expected to move middle infielder Orlando Cabrera and catcher Michael Barrett for packages of prospects.

“I want to be able to listen to as many clubs as possible and have as many options as possible,” Minaya said. “I’m going to do what’s best for the Montreal Expos.”

Of course, trading talented young players seemingly isn’t in the Expos’ best interests, but the commissioner’s office sets their agenda.

Montreal’s payroll is expected to increase from about $38 million in 2002 to $44 million next season, officials said, but more than $50 million would be required to keep the group intact. That’s not going to happen.

“I don’t think teams are trying to take advantage of our situation,” Minaya said. “I think teams are saying, ‘You’ve got some pretty good players available and we know you have to trim payroll.’ That’s the objective.”

Dodger General Manager Dan Evans also carefully considered his options, saying the club “won’t be pressured into situations” just because the meetings had begun. Focused on acquiring a first baseman, Evans conducted “fact-finding” sessions with many clubs, gauging the availability of players such as Robert Fick of the Detroit Tigers, sources said.

The Dodgers have discussed numerous free-agent options to fill the spot opened when Eric Karros was traded to the Chicago Cubs, but Evans and officials from other teams said the Dodgers were not close to completing a deal.

“We came here with the understanding internally that our goal was to just find out where clubs were,” he said. “The important thing is for us to make the right call.”

The Dodgers signed utilityman Jolbert Cabrera to a one-year, $435,000 contract and now have five arbitration-eligible players.

Angel Manager Mike Scioscia received plenty of congratulations from officials from other teams when he arrived at the meetings.

Typically, Scioscia, the American League manager of the year, deflected praise, crediting players for their dedication in a World Series-championship season.

The Angels aren’t expected to be active during the meetings, but they might pursue a reserve outfielder.

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Former Dodger owner Walter O’Malley is among 41 finalists on the ballot of the Hall of Fame’s veterans committee.

Other finalists with ties to the Dodgers are former general manager Buzzie Bavasi and former players Gil Hodges, Don Newcombe and Maury Wills.

Marvin Miller, who as head of their union led the players to important legal victories that opened the way to multimillion-dollar contracts, is also on the ballot.

To be inducted into the Hall of Fame, nominees must receive at least 75% of ballots cast. Voting is in January.