Starting Today, Contact Can Lead to Contracts

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — Trade talks at the general manager meetings follow basic communication theory.

There is one-way contact -- an executive makes a trade proposal to another executive, who listens and politely moves on.

There is two-way contact -- the executive making the proposal elicits a response and the dialogue continues.

Beginning today, a third element is introduced. Instead of communication streaming strictly from general manager to general manager, it will flow from general manager to free agent. Teams were given permission to bid on the 207 free agents at midnight Thursday.

The Dodgers and Angels are certain to aggressively pursue starting pitchers from a group headed by Carl Pavano, Pedro Martinez, Matt Clement, Eric Milton, Brad Radke and Jon Lieber.

Martinez said the Angels and Dodgers contacted his agent in recent days to express interest in signing him. General managers Paul DePodesta of the Dodgers and Bill Stoneman of the Angels would not comment on individual players, but both said that over the last two weeks they contacted the representatives of most free agents they planned to pursue.

One reason pitching is an immediate priority for the Dodgers is that it is largely unrelated to the re-signing of free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre. Filling needs at positions other than pitcher could be difficult as long as Beltre is undecided, which could be for a month or two because his agent, Scott Boras, is seeking a long-term deal.

Barring a lightning bolt offer, neither DePodesta nor Stoneman plans to make a trade before the meetings conclude today. The two general managers employ similar subdued styles, operating below the radar. Instead of negotiating in the Ritz-Carlton lobby or adjoining bar as several of their colleagues do, they prefer the privacy of their hotel suites.

But that doesn't mean they aren't working at it. Executives from other teams say the Angels and Dodgers are in the thick of trade talk and potential free-agent bidding.

"Nothing is imminent right now," Stoneman said. "But that's not to say something couldn't happen. Some things come together real quick."

Both executives laid the groundwork this week for potential deals. Stoneman said he spoke to nearly every team; DePodesta said he talked to about half of them. Although any general manager could have talked trade before the meetings simply by picking up the telephone, there is something about gathering under one opulent roof in a balmy city that heats up conversation.