Big News Canseco Fans....

As I've told you before, it is very likely that Jose will be traded to the
Yankees before the season is over. I thought the deal wouldn't happen
until later in the season, but it sounds like the Yankees struggling
offense is desperately in need for a good DH, and Jose is at the top of
their want list. A deal could happen before the end of the week... I
wasn't too big on the idea at first, but I have to admit it would be nice
to see Jose in pinstripes, playing on a winning team with so much history.

Depressing Jose Quote of the Week:
"We absolutely (stink) right now. And I (stink) worse than anybody,"
Canseco said. "I don't even know how to change it."

Maybe a trade to the Yankees would do Jose some good. He'd be on a winning
team who puts a lot of runners on base ahead of him...

For the trade rumor details, plus some other cool stuff like stupid Arthur
Rhodes actually going after Jose during a bench clearing brawl last week,
Jose talking about hitting a ball out of Safeco Field, and a story about
the Canseco Financial Group, check out the articles below.

I'll keep you posted...
Mark

P.S. Jennifer, a member of this list, is looking for a copy of Jose's
appearance on Nash Bridges from last year. If anyone has a copy of the
show and is willing to make her a copy of it, please email her at
JN7JN8@....

==========
From the St. Petersburg Times:
Un-four-seen power outage
The Devil Rays' slugger foursome has yet to put it together as a unit and
it's causing some tension at the plate.
By John Romano
May 19, 2000

SEATTLE -- The Devil Rays assembled a lineup this season that, failing all
else, could at least be counted on to go deep.

Instead, at a quarter past the season, the best the Rays can muster is a
deep mess.

The muscle-enriched lineup featuring Jose Canseco, Vinny Castilla, Fred
McGriff and Greg Vaughn has done little to boost Tampa Bay's place in the
standings or in the bully department.

The Rays were 13th in the American League in home runs last season. Now
they are tied for 11th.

"We stink," Canseco said. "The only one who is pulling his load is
Vaughnie. The rest of us stink. For myself, seven home runs at this point is
ridiculous."

Vaughn is on pace for a 40-homer season and many of his shots have come at
critical moments. McGriff has been hot this week with four homers, albeit
in five losses. Canseco, with seven, and Castilla, with five, have had
little or no impact.

A $60-million payroll just doesn't buy what it used to anymore.

With 30 home runs between them, the Rays sluggers would rank in the bottom
half of foursomes in the majors. They are nowhere near, say, the Toronto
pack of Carlos Delgado, Raul Mondesi, Jose Cruz and Tony Batista, who have
combined for 46 homers....

...It's true four sluggers aren't going to carry a team to a pennant
without solid pitching -- and Tampa Bay's has been atrocious at times. But
the expectation of excitement was far more than the reality. Canseco
predicted the group could average 40 home runs each.

Explanations for the struggles are varied and inconclusive.

Canseco's leg injury may or may not be affecting his swing. Castilla is
putting too much pressure on himself to perform for a new team outside of
Coors Field and there are whispers about diminishing bat speed. Teams have
been able to pitch around the foursome because no one is getting on base in
front of them....

Sluggish Sluggers
Player 1998 1999 2000*
Jose Canseco 46 34 29
Vinny Castilla 46 33 21
Fred McGriff 19 32 33
Greg Vaughn 50 45 41
* projected

==========
From the St. Petersburg Times:

POWER PATROL: Fans were begging Jose Canseco to hit a ball out of Safeco
Field during batting practice, but the Rays designated hitter said they
might as well hold their breath.

Even though Canseco hit several balls in the back rows of the upper deck in
leftfield, he said it was doubtful anyone could hit a ball beyond the
bleachers and out of the stadium. The track for the retractable roof is
directly behind the last row and no one has hit a ball past that.

"That's a little too far," Canseco said. "You might come close, but I don't
think it could happen."

==========
From the Devil Rays site:
Canseco A Real Bull
May 19, 2000

When we think about him, the first thing that comes to mind is that awesome
home run power, that vicious uppercut swing that seems to summon enough
torque to offload a shipment of longhorns.

Actually, these days, Jose Canseco can be linked as much to bulls as he can
to Ruthian rips. He hits 400-foot home runs and then focuses on the Nasdaq
going back over 5000. His job description says he's a DH, but he would
seemingly be happy dabbling in technology stocks for a living. Canseco
truly is the epitome of the modern-day athlete: a player on the field and off.

Canseco started his investment career five years ago. He began by
experimenting with the stock market and has since gained the requisite
confidence to venture into some of the more risky areas of finance. He now
has a stake in some of the top technology properties, including Cisco
Systems, Yahoo, Amazon and Microsoft.

Canseco has done so well, in fact, that he's launched his own firm, Canseco
Financial Group, which specializes in servicing professional athletes who
have a lot of money but little direction. If a wealthy athlete wants to
make an expensive purchase, Canseco's firm can advise him how to do so and
best avoid risk in the process.

Canseco, the 1988 American League MVP and on pace to hit roughly 600 career
home runs, made better than a 100% gain on his investments in 1999. And
even though the tech sector recently took a hit, he says good days are ahead.

"The way the economy was growing, it was outgrowing expectations," says
Canseco, who has seven homers this season and 436 in his career. "There was
a lot of fluff, and we had to have a correction. I still see the Nasdaq
going back over 5000 in eight months."

Canseco, already living comfortably beyond his years because of his
brilliant baseball talent, is on pace to exceed his baseball earnings with
his investment portfolio. He's done it with a foresight that isn't unique
to many of today young investors, many of whom can be found in professional
sports.

For example, Canseco took a chance on Yahoo a few years back before it
became the Internet giant that it is today. Had he left his financial
future in the hands of an advisor at the time, instead of learning the
ropes on his own, he may have been guided down a less risky path and never
have found the fortune that he now possesses.

Of course, it's easier for a wealthy, successful athlete to be aggressive.
But it's that same aggressive nature that helps Canseco on the field and
has him headed for the Hall of Fame.

Is it any surprise that he's headed for similar riches away from the diamond?

==========
From the St. Petersburg Times:
Rays show some fight
It's 1, 2, 3 players out as Devil Rays and the Mariners mix it up in a 4-3
Tampa Bay victory.
By John Romano
May 21, 2000

SEATTLE -- The day begins in the Devil Rays clubhouse with a bunch of grown
men rubbing Rick White's bald head for luck. Later, the teams brawl on the
field and some nutty Mariners reliever says he wants a piece of Jose
Canseco. By nightfall, the opposing managers are enjoying each other's
company over dinner.

All in all, it was a very good day for a very needy team.

The Devil Rays snapped a six-game losing streak Saturday afternoon, beating
the Mariners 4-3 to avoid replacing Detroit as the team with the worst
record in the majors.

In the process, the Rays hope they might have accomplished something even
larger. Perhaps a defining moment for a team in need of an identity.

"I think this can be good. It lets you know where everybody stands, that
all 25 guys are on the same page," catcher Mike DiFelice said. "I think you
saw that out there today."

What people saw at Safeco Field is open to conjecture, although the basic
facts are:

Mariners second baseman Mark McLemore called time while at the plate and
stepped out of the batter's box. Rays pitcher Esteban Yan continued his
delivery and threw a pitch in the direction of McLemore's legs. McLemore
charged the mound, throwing his helmet at Yan and starting a ruckus that
took 15 minutes to clear up.

McLemore said Yan intentionally threw at him and he had no choice but to
charge the mound. Umpire Bruce Froemming did not agree. Froemming said Yan
was already in his windup when time was called and the pitch was
accidental. McLemore was ejected and Yan was allowed to continue. When
McLemore incited tempers again by screaming at Yan, Rays manager Larry
Rothschild decided to take his pitcher out.

"For him to go out and try to end somebody's career when they're not
looking? There's no room for that kind of c--- in baseball," Mariners
shortstop Alex Rodriguez said. "He has too good an arm to be doing that
kind of stuff."

Yan proclaimed innocence. He said he had begun his windup and continued
throwing to avoid injury.

"He called timeout and I tried to throw the pitch to the ground," Yan said.
"I don't want to hit any batters. I got no reason, it's a close game. When
he said timeout, I didn't want to stop and hurt my shoulder. I threw it 81
mph."

The consensus in the clubhouse was that Yan was not throwing at McLemore
but, if he did, he had some justification. The Mariners were continually
stepping out of the batter's box in an attempt to disrupt Yan's timing.

As brawls go, it was a tame affair, although Mariners reliever Arthur
Rhodes did his best to spice it up.

Rhodes was pushed aside by Canseco and had to be restrained by several
players from attacking the 250-pound slugger. Rhodes continued to struggle
to get at Canseco and was eventually ejected after mouthing off to Froemming.

"If you can't push me in front of my face, don't push me," Rhodes said.
"I'm not going to take that."

During the pitcher's on-field tirade, the muscular Canseco stood nearby and
calmly suggested a one-on-one conflict might be an unwise move on Rhodes' part.

Canseco said he was merely acting as a peacekeeper. He was in the clubhouse
when the brawl began and by the time he got on the field, the players were
in a scrum.

"When I came out, there were a bunch of people on Yan. So I started going
through the pile, separating people. I guess Rhodes was one of the guys I
pushed," Canseco said. "I didn't realize it, but he probably took offense
to it."...

==========
From the Seattle Times
M's go down swinging; McLemore, Rhodes ejected for melee against Devil Rays
By Bud Withers

...McLemore said the ball didn't hit him. Nor did anything seriously
physical happen in the melee that followed. Among the peacemakers in the
middle were two of the larger players, the Rays' Jose Canseco and the
Mariners' Jay Buhner.

Rhodes said he was pushed from behind by Canseco as he tried to mediate for
McLemore and Yan, a former teammate. Canseco conceded Rhodes might have
been one of his victims as he tried to get to the core of the mess.

"It was Canseco," said a bitter Rhodes. "If you can't push me in front of
my face, don't push me. It wasn't no accident. I'm not going to take that."...

==========
From the St. Petersburg Times:
Canseco whiffs in this 'rematch'
By John Romano
May 22, 2000

SEATTLE -- Arthur Rhodes knows how to fight dirty.

A day after questioning Jose Canseco's manhood and challenging him to fight
during an on-field brawl, Rhodes met with the Devil Rays designated hitter
again.

This time, the bases were loaded and the game was on the line in the
seventh inning. Rhodes worked the count to 1-and-2 throwing 96 and 97 mph
fastballs. Then he struck him out -- on an 83 mph slider.

Talk about your low blows.

"He gave me two fastballs to hit earlier in the count and I missed them
both. I got not one, but two fastballs to hit, and I fouled them back,"
Canseco said. "When a guy is throwing that hard and has that kind of
slider, you miss two pitches you can hit and you're basically done."

Rhodes leapt off the mound after the strikeout and gestured in a downward
motion with both arms. Later, Rhodes said he was not thinking about
Saturday's incident when he had to be restrained after being pushed by Canseco.

"There's no carryover," Rhodes said. "In that situation, I'm not going to
give up against him and I'm not going to hit him because I'm mad. Now it's
all over and we can forget about it."

==========
From the Tampa Bay Tribune:

...One of those problems, a frustrating tendency to leave runners on base,
has been a thorn in Manager Larry Rothschild's side for the last month. It
happened again at Safeco Field, where the Rays left six men on base the
last three innings, including the bases loaded in the seventh and runners
at second and third in the ninth.

Designated hitter Jose Canseco struck out to end each threat, first against
Arthur Rhodes, then against Kazuhiro Sasaki to end the game...

...Left fielder Greg Vaughn, who already has either tied the game or given
the Rays a lead with an RBI hit on 15 occasions, struck out swinging
against Rhodes. Up came Canseco, the subject of Rhodes' ire during the
bench-clearing brawl the day before.

Rhodes, who went ballistic Saturday after being pushed by Canseco during
the melee, got his revenge in front of a sellout crowd of 45,264.

``Greg's done a tremendous job this year, especially in that situation,''
Rothschild said. ``He's not going to be able to do it every time. But
somebody's got to pick him up. That's how you score runs.''

Vaughn came to the plate in the ninth with another chance to cut into the
lead, but catcher Dan Wilson fielded a nubbed grounder in front of the
plate and threw to first for the second out. Canseco struck out for the
third time to end the game...

==========
From a Peter Gammons Column:

Tampa Bay reportedly is nearing a cash-flow problem, but who would take the
salaries of Roberto Hernandez, Vinny Castilla, Juan Guzman, Fred McGriff or
Wilson Alvarez? "Someone might take Jose Canseco since his contract is
done at the end of the season," one AL GM says. "Of course, do you want
his act? He's more interested in his investment company. He was analyzing
the stock market on the radio the other day." Al Gore will promise
everything else in Florida, why not Jose as Treasury Secretary?

==========
And now a stab from Chuck Lamar regarding Peter Gammon's comments from above:

...On Monday, general manager Chuck LaMar denied a published report by ESPN
reporter Peter Gammons that said the team is actively seeking to deal some
of its high-priced players for pitching help.

"Instead of wasting my time asking about that, I'd like you to call
Gammons, put it on my bill and ask him which players we want to move,"
LaMar said. "I bet I haven't had three conversations about any of those
players in the past month."


==========
From the St. Petersburg Times:
Yanks after Canseco
George Steinbrenner calls a team meeting, reportedly to discuss acquiring
the Devil Rays slugger.
Compiled from Times wires
May 23, 2000

TAMPA -- The New York Yankees' latest slump has George Steinbrenner in a
predictable mood and pursuing a predictable target.

Steinbrenner called a meeting Monday so he and his baseball people could
discuss a trade for Jose Canseco, according to the Record of Hackensack,
N.J., and it's possible the Devil Rays slugger could be traded by the end
of the week.

General manager Brian Cashman was summoned to team headquarters in Tampa,
where he spent most of the day with Steinbrenner. Executives including vice
president of baseball operations Mark Newman and director of player
development Rob Thompson held a lunch meeting, then retreated to the club's
minor-league complex to talk further.

As with any such get-together called by Steinbrenner, the executives
apparently went over a multitude of options that would help the team's
struggling offense. But the potential acquisition of Canseco, currently in
his second season with the Devil Rays, stood out as the top option, the
paper said. Canseco's power and lively personality always have intrigued
Steinbrenner.

Devil Rays officials don't comment on proposed trades.

Canseco, who turns 36 on July 2, is batting .260 with seven homers, 17 RBI,
44 strikeouts and 22 walks in 40 games. He has a history of health
problems; last season, he played in 113 games because he needed midseason
back surgery. But he also has a history of rebounding and performing well
when he arrives on a new team. Canseco would start at designated hitter,
and the Yanks could shift Shane Spencer, with whom they are generally
pleased, to leftfield. Ricky Ledee, whose struggles have captured
Steinbrenner's attention, could be included in the package for Canseco,
dealt elsewhere for pitching prospects or kept as a reserve.

The Yankees and Devil Rays have intensified discussions recently about
Canseco, and Tampa Bay initially asked for No. 5 starter Ramiro Mendoza,
the Record reported. Considering the lack of pitching depth in the Yankees
organization, as well as manager Joe Torre's fondness for Mendoza, that is
unlikely.

But the Devil Rays may be willing to settle for less. They probably will
move to the National League next year, thus eliminating their need for a
designated hitter.

==========
From the NJ Record
Yankees pursuing Canseco
Tuesday, May 23, 2000
By Ken Davidoff

CHICAGO -- The Yankees' latest slump has George Steinbrenner in a
predictable mood and pursuing a predictable target.

The Boss called an emergency meeting Monday so that he and his baseball
people could discuss numerous trade proposals, according to sources close
to the situation, and Jose Canseco ranks atop the list of possibilities. A
trade, or more than one, could be done within the next few days.

General manager Brian Cashman was summoned by The Boss to the team's Tampa,
Fla., headquarters, and there, Cashman spent most of Monday with his
employer. The group of executives -- including vice president of baseball
operations Mark Newman and director of player development Rob Thompson --
held a lunch meeting, then retreated to the club's minor league complex to
talk further. Cashman, who wasn't available for comment, will stay in Tampa
for a few days.

As with any such get-together called by Steinbrenner, the executives
apparently went over a multitude of options to help their struggling
offense, with Oakland's Matt Stairs discussed heavily. But the potential
acquisition of Canseco, in his second year with the Devil Rays, stood out
as the top option, partly because the A's have repeatedly turned down
requests for Stairs. Canseco's power and lively personality has always
intrigued The Boss.

Canseco, who will turn 36 on July 2, is hitting .260 with seven homers, 17
RBI, 44 strikeouts, and 22 walks in 40 games. He has a history of health
problems -- last year, he played in just 113 games because he needed to
undergo midseason back surgery -- but he also has a history of rebounding
and performing well when he arrives on a new team. He has pounded 438
career homers with five different teams, including two stints with the A's.

If acquired, he would start at designated hitter, and the Yanks could shift
DH Shane Spencer -- with whom they are generally pleased -- to left field.
Ricky Ledee, whose struggles have captured Steinbrenner's attention, could
be included as part of the package for Canseco, dealt elsewhere for
pitching prospects, or kept as a reserve.

The Yankees and Devil Rays have intensified discussions recently about
Canseco, and Tampa Bay initially asked for No. 5 starter Ramiro Mendoza.
Considering the lack of pitching depth in the Yankees organization, as well
as manager Joe Torre's fondness for Mendoza, that won't happen.

But the Devil Rays, in last place in the American League East with a 14-28
record, are anxious enough to discard of Canseco that they'll likely settle
for less. They will probably move to the National League next year, thus
eliminating their need for a DH, and their poor attendance at Tropicana
Field has them looking to dump payroll. A package of second-tier young
pitchers, including the likes of right-handers Todd Erdos, Darrell
Einertson, and Ben Ford, along with some cash, could be enough to pull off
a deal.

It's also possible that the Yankees could acquire a pitcher -- perhaps
reliever Albie Lopez or Roberto Hernandez -- from the Devil Rays.

The right-handed-hitting Canseco would give the Bombers a true home-run
hitter, a commodity they have lacked since Darryl Strawberry departed. Much
like Torre often said of Strawberry, Canseco has an impact on a game even
when he's not in it, for an opposing manager must factor in his possible
appearance at the plate while executing all late-inning pitching changes.

He would also be affordable. He'll earn roughly $3 million this season, as
part of a contract that includes several incentives clauses based on plate
appearances, and he has an option that kicks in for next year based on the
same category.

While Canseco has a well-earned reputation as a free spirit, that doesn't
appear to concern the Yankees too much. As always, team officials believe
their current clubhouse, strong on character, can absorb just about any
personality. Roger Clemens, who has become a popular teammate this year, is
very friendly with Canseco from their days together in Boston and Toronto.
And the slugger craves attention, so the New York pressure wouldn't be a
factor.

"Jose would love the opportunity to play in New York," Canseco's agent
Javier Ortiz said Monday. "We're crossing our fingers and hoping something
can come about."

Monday's get-together came the day after the Yankees dropped their second
straight game, 6-1, to the Indians at Jacobs Field. They have lost seven of
their last nine.

==========
From Newsday:
Yanks Pursuing Canseco
by Lawrence Rocca and Jon Heyman

TV: Metro Radio: WABC (770) Chicago-It's been eight years since he
represented the more dangerous half of Oakland's famous Bash Brothers duo,
but it might not be long before Jose Canseco is a Yankee. According to
people familiar with the club's plans, the Yankees have identified Canseco
as the most attractive of the potential cures for their ailing lineup.

Owner George Steinbrenner called an emergency front-office meeting in Tampa
to discuss the issue yesterday, even summoning Yankees general manager
Brian Cashman from New York. It's unclear if anything was resolved in the
meeting.

Steinbrenner, Cashman and vice president Mark Newman all failed to return
phone calls.

If the Yankees acquire Canseco, who has 438 career homers, he would become
their everyday DH, pushing Shane Spencer to leftfield and perhaps pushing
the struggling Ricky Ledee out of the organization, maybe even to Tampa Bay
in return.

The last-place Devil Rays are desperate for pitching, but they're just as
desperate to unload salary and, with a move to the National League next
year likely, a one-dimensional DH. Canseco, 35, is in the second year of an
incentive-laden three-year contract potentially worth $16.4 million.

Approximately $2.25 million remains on his salary this season. If he gets
550 plate appearances, he would be guaranteed at least $4 million for next
season.

That's not that much for Steinbrenner, who's always been intoxicated by
star power. People familiar with his thinking say he's been consumed with
how feeble the Yankees offense has been this year. Steinbrenner allowed
Cashman to talk him out of trading for Jim Edmonds in spring training but
recently has grumbled publicly about his regret over that decision and his
general dissatisfaction with the lineup.

Sources say Steinbrenner's behind-the-scenes rants are getting louder by
the day, which should be no surprise. Since Derek Jeter was lost to an
abdominal strain, the Yankees have lost seven of nine games, including two
of three to Steinbrenner's hometown Indians, and have shown little evidence
during the skid that their offense was coming back to life.

After breaking out for 20 runs in back-to-back victories Wednesday and
Friday, the Yankees scored just three runs, one of them unearned, in losing
the final two games of the Cleveland series. Adding to the indignity was
that unheralded rookie Paul Rigdon held them to two hits in seven scoreless
innings while making his major-league debut Sunday.

Steinbrenner apparently called the meeting in the wake of that embarrassing
loss, which kept his team mired near the bottom of the AL in nearly every
significant offensive category. The Yankees rank second-to-last in the
American League in runs, hits and total bases, are third-worst in hitting,
home runs and walks and are better than only three AL clubs in slugging
percentage and on-base percentage.

As of last week, Yankees officials were denying interest in Canseco, who is
hitting .260 with seven home runs and 17 RBI this year. Canseco cannot play
the outfield anymore and is no longer a stolen-base threat, but he would
serve as the "threat" that Joe Torre has mentioned the Yankees lack since
Darryl Strawberry was lost to a drug suspension.

Canseco hit 46 home runs for the Blue Jays in 1998 and was leading the
major leagues with 31 home runs last year when his season was interrupted
July 9 by a back problem that eventually required surgery.

Canseco came back to hit only three homers in 31 games but nonetheless
finished the season with 34 homers in just 113 games.

The Yankees would rather acquire a lefthanded slugger in order to take
advantage of the rightfield fence at Yankee Stadium and the preponderance
of righthanded starting pitchers in the AL. Along those lines, the Yankees
have inquired about Oakland rightfielder Matt Stairs but have been
repeatedly told by Athletics officials that he is not available.

Past inquiries into the availability of Matt Lawton, Jeromy Burnitz and
Darin Erstad found trade demands too high for the Yankees' liking.

For a variety of reasons, the Yankees have decided to pass on available
lefthanded hitters such as Henry Rodriguez, Ray Lankford and Bobby
Higginson.

From 1987-92, Canseco and Mark McGwire formed one of the most feared
slugger combinations in history. Canseco won the MVP in 1988, when he
became the first player in history to hit at least 40 homers and steal at
least 40 bases in one season. Canseco was recognized as baseball's best DH
in 1998, when he won the Silver Slugger Award.

=============
Mark Petrillo
mark@...
Canseconet.com - The Jose Canseco Site