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Mazzone nixes Yanks, talks to O's

By DAVID O'BRIEN

The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionPublished on: 10/19/05

Leo Mazzone's flirtation with the New York Yankees ended Wednesday, but the venerable Braves pitching coach may be closer than ever to jumping ship — to the Baltimore Orioles.
The Orioles emerged as the likely destination for Mazzone, and a person familiar with negotiations said the only thing holding up a deal is the Braves' demand for a specific Orioles minor leaguer as compensation The Associated Press, quoting an anonymous source, reported that Mazzone has agreed to a three-year contract with the Orioles.
A resolution could come before the start of the World Series on Saturday and perhaps as soon as Thursday. Mazzone, a close friend of Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo, once again did not return messages left on his voicemail Wednesday.
The Orioles have been negotiating with Mazzone's attorney since receiving permission to do so Tuesday from Braves general manager John Schuerholz.
"He and Sam are boyhood friends," attorney Jack Reale said. "They played American Legion together. He knows Sam, so that's certainly a big factor. We'll have to wait and see how it all plays out here the next couple of days."
Schuerholz previously granted the Yankees permission to talk to Mazzone, but their three-business-day period to negotiate closed Wednesday at 5 p.m.
"The window for the Yankees to speak with representatives for Leo Mazzone closed at 5 p.m.," a statement from the Yankees said. "Both sides agreed to end discussions without resolution."
Asked about the window closing, Schuerholz said, "That is correct." He wouldn't comment on the status of the Orioles' talks with Mazzone.
When asked if the situation might be resolved quickly, "I'm not real good at guessing, but it may. And that's more than a 'no comment,' so that's all I'm going to say."
The Orioles technically have until Friday to negotiate with him.
Reale said Tuesday that Mazzone, who's been with the Braves organization since 1979, had reached a point in his career where he needed to explore all his options and do what was best for him and his family.
His $250,000 salary with the Braves in 2005 was more than $150,000 below the top of the pay scale for pitching coaches, and Mazzone wouldn't make significantly more if he accepted the Braves' offer to return in 2006.
While that remains an option, it's one that Braves officials don't sound confident would be exercised.
Mazzone is under contract with Atlanta through Nov. 15. He could wait until Nov. 16 to sign with another team, but the Braves could argue a deal was already in place before then.
"We're just kind of laying low and waiting for the Braves or someone to tell us what the situation is, waiting for the field to be cleared," said Reale, who wouldn't confirm whether compensation was an issue.
Mazzone, who has served as manager Bobby Cox's pitching coach since 1990, could return to the Braves in 2006 — but at a salary previously agreed upon by him and Schuerholz.
The Braves don't give multi-year deals to coaches.
The Baltimore Sun reported the Orioles were prepared to compete with any offer the Yankees made to Mazzone. The Yankees paid Mel Stottlemyre more than $400,000 before he stepped down after 10 seasons as their pitching coach.
Mazzone, 57, and Perlozzo, 55, knew each other as teenagers, and became closer while living on the same block in Cumberland, Md., in the 1980s.
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