Tribe Banks On Vizquel's Return

Omar Vizquel's threats are not being taken lightly by the Indians. They know he might hold out of spring training camp, and they know he may ask to be traded.

They also know they're not going to tear up his contract.

"We've sort of been painted as that we either have to trade him, which we are not going to do, or we're going to renegotiate his contract, which we're not going to do," Cleveland general manager John Hart said Monday.

Vizquel, Cleveland's wondrous six-time Gold Glove shortstop, is unhappy with a current deal which will pay him $3 million per season through 2002.

After seeing some of his peers cash in for huge deals this winter, Vizquel said last month he'd consider asking the Indians to ship him elsewhere. He also said he may not report to the team's camp in Winter Haven, Fla., if the club doesn't renegotiate his deal.

Last month, Hart met with Vizquel and his agent, Adam Katz, to work on ways of improving the shortstop's salary without redoing his contract. A personal services contract and increases in Vizquel's incentive clauses were among the areas discussed.

"There are some internal things we're still looking at," Hart said.

Hart is optimistic that Vizquel will be in Florida on Feb. 22, the reporting date for Cleveland's position players.

"I'm optimistic that Omar is going to show up ready to go," said Hart. "You never know what's going to happen. But I'm not losing sleep over this. I just believe in Omar the person, and I think Omar will be there. If I were a betting man, I'd bet on Omar being right on time, ready to go."

It's been a strange off-season for Hart. First, he strengthened the Indians' bullpen by adding Jerry Spradlin and Ricardo Rincon. Then, Hart gave the Indians an All-Star at every position by signing free agent second baseman Roberto Alomar, a player he has coveted for years.

All te pieces were coming together nicely, and then the popular Vizquel shocked Indians fans with his uncharacteristic demands. Hart, though, thinks everything will work out for all parties involved.

"If this is the toughest thing we have to deal with, than I'm OK," he said.

The Indians started their winter press tour Monday with a luncheon at Jacobs Field attended by Cleveland manager Mike Hargrove, pitching coach Phil Regan and players Jim Thome, Sandy Alomar, Richie Sexson and Steve Karsay.

It seemed whenever Hargrove or any of the Indians began discussing a topic, whether it was the Yankees or Mark McGwire or the weather, it wasn't long before the conversation's focus came back to Vizquel.

And why not?

Cleveland's pitching rotation is essentially in place, and except for naming a starting pitcher, Hargrove could go ahead and fill out his lineup card for the Indians' regular-season opener on April 6 at Anaheim.

But if Vizquel isn't a happy camper, and his attitude becomes a problem, it could disrupt the team's chemistry and spread like a virus throughout the Indians' clubhouse.

"I understand his feelings," said Sandy Alomar. "He's a great player. A lot of players at his position are making a lot more money than he is. But these players are free agents signing now. The market changes. This is a very difficult situation."

Alomar said he has not spoken with Vizquel about the contract issue, and that he wouldn't unless he sees someone being counter productive to the Indians' team goals.

"The only way I'll get involved is if he comes to spring training and he doesn't work hard at it and he's kind of like cheating the rest of the team," he said. "Because we're a team here and we're trying to accomplish one thing, to win the World Series. "

"If he doesn't work like that, then I'll have something to say at that point. Whether the Indians want to redo his contract or not, that's not my problem. But make sure they keep the doors open if they do, because there will be a lot of guys going in that door, believe me."

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