Some Players Do Own Thing

Groundball to the owner who makes a nice backhand stab and throws to first to end the inning.... The crowd cheers and rushes to the concession stand to load up on food and drinks.... Cha-ching!

What sounds like Frank McCourt or Arte Moreno daydreaming is reality for Jose Valentin.

The new Dodger third baseman purchased a franchise in the Puerto Rican winter league last year, relocated it to his hometown of Manati, and operated the team while also supplying the most feared bat in the lineup. He did it all, from negotiating contracts to choosing uniform colors, from batting cleanup to cleaning up the clubhouse.

“A lot of people asked me to do it,” he said. “There is no better situation than to own a team and watch it develop in your hometown.”

Valentin, 35, could be on the forefront of a trend. Many followers of winter baseball in Latin countries say former and current major league players will become the next wave of owners. The number of Latino players making astronomical salaries has skyrocketed, and as their careers wind down many wish to remain connected with the game while enjoying the familiarity of their native soil.

Dodger pitcher Odalis Perez tried to buy the Estrellas Orientales, a storied franchise in the Dominican Republic city of San Pedro de Macoris that he has played for since 1995. His $1-million offer was turned down recently by the league, which opted to allow a group headed by Dominican businessman Miguel Feris Iglesias to operate the team with an option to buy it within five years.

Sammy Sosa’s longtime personal assistant, Domingo Dauhajre, also is part of the group, leading to speculation that Sosa eventually wants to own the team. Sosa is from San Pedro de Macoris and has expressed an interest in ownership when his playing career ends.

“Guys are intrigued with owning a team,” said an agent who represents several top Latino players. “You hear guys talking about it all the time. They say it would be really fun to buy a team and run it like we want and treat the players the way we want.”

Veteran major league infielder Carlos Baerga became the first active player to own a franchise when he bought a Puerto Rican team in 2000. He has moved the team three times in search of fan support and profit, from Arecibo to Bayamon to San Juan to Santurce, but his commitment has not wavered.

“I believe in what we’re doing and see a lot of potential,” said Baerga, who like Valentin plays for his team each winter.

The idea of active players’ owning teams is frowned upon by the Dominican league, where attendance and advertising revenue are much greater than in Puerto Rico. Stan Javier, whose 17-year major league career ended in 2001, is the only former player to have owned a franchise in the Dominican. He purchased the San Francisco de Macoris Gigantes in 2002 and sold the team two years later.

“Some people believe that ballplayers are stingy with their money,” said Carlos Jose Lugo, the Estrellas play-by-play announcer. “They want owners who will stay with it even when the team loses money.”

By all accounts, Perez was genuine in his desire to provide stable ownership for the Estrellas, who are the Chicago Cubs of the Dominican, a beloved franchise in a baseball-crazed city that has won only two championships since the 1930s.

“I would be hands-on,” he said. “I’d be involved every day. I’d be the guy who makes the moves.”

He certainly wouldn’t be a newcomer. During the three-month season that ended in January, Perez traveled with the team even though he did not pitch because the Dodgers asked that he rest his arm.

“He was at all the games, he was in the clubhouse, he ran with the other pitchers and threw in the bullpen,” Lugo said. “His interest is definitely sincere. It’s not about the money. He has a passion for the game and for the city of San Pedro.”

It was widely believed that Perez would have retained the current front office, including General Manager Junior Noboa. Having a knowledgeable, trusted person running the day-to-day operation is key to a turning a profit.

Baerga’s right-hand man has been former major league outfielder Candy Maldonado. Valentin’s team, the Manati Atenieses, is operated by his wife, Ilka, when he is away. Jose Garcia, the scout who signed him, is the general manager.

Although the investment is a pittance compared with a major league franchise -- Valentin bought his team for $1.6 million -- ownership is not without risk. A significant problem in both countries is the devaluation of the local currency against the dollar. Ticket and advertising revenue is in pesos, but salaries are paid in dollars to the handful of American players who often are some of the biggest names.

Manati finished in last place and the average attendance was 1,000. Still, Valentin is not discouraged. This was his second attempt to buy a team, and once the sale was final his thoughts turned to marketing.

He chose the name Atenieses, which means Greek Warriors, because Manati is sometimes referred to as the Athens of Puerto Rico. Valentin is among the city’s wealthiest citizens, having made about $28 million in 12 seasons, and he signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers for $3.5 million.

“We are trying to bring fans out to the games,” he said. “We broke even financially. You can make money if you do the right things. It will be fun to see where it goes.”

Valentin approached minor league directors of Dodger opponents this spring, asking about prospects who might be interested in coming to Puerto Rico to play in the winter.

Everyone has heard the term, “He’s a player’s coach.” Valentin believes he is a player’s owner.

“If you can afford it, owning a team is a good idea for a player,” he said. “We know the game. We know what players like and don’t like. We know what they need.”

Yet he can also make like the stingiest major league owner, complaining about salaries, which in Puerto Rico range from $3,000 to $9,000 a month. Dodger infielder Olmedo Saenz, whose locker is next to Valentin’s at Dodgertown, envies his teammate, but teasingly says he wouldn’t play for him.

“A lot of guys want to do something for their town, and he is able to do it,” Saenz said. “But I’ve heard him talking. He wouldn’t pay me enough.”

Dodger outfielder Ricky Ledee is from Puerto Rico, but he no longer plays in the winter league, saying the caliber of competition and fan interest has dropped considerably from the mid-1990s, when he played on a team with major league stars Juan Gonzalez, Roberto Alomar, Bernie Williams, Edgar Martinez, Rey Sanchez, Jorge Posada and Jason Isringhausen.

“There are a lot of other things for people there to do besides watch ballgames,” he said. “The young people aren’t so interested in baseball.”

The game’s popularity isn’t an issue in the Dominican Republic. Owning a team can be lucrative, and major league players are beginning to recognize it. The biggest hurdles seem to be overcoming ingrained stereotypes of irresponsible ballplayers and getting the country’s politicians onboard.

In addition to gaining approval from the league, owners must have the blessing of the senate and president of the country.

“You have to pay so much money under the table the price of a team could end up higher than the New York Yankees,” one former Dominican general manager said.

Perez said his bid was not accepted because of “politics,” but he would consider starting a team in another part of the country. Owning a team is a dream that won’t die.

“If you have the money and you have the passion, if you are willing to put in the work, they won’t stop you,” he said.

The owner looks in for the sign, checks the runner and fools the batter with a changeup for strike three. The game over, fans clamor to buy jerseys bearing the number of their favorite player -- the owner ...

Cha-ching.