"According
to several sources, the three-way Beltran/Dotel trade broke down for
financial reasons, despite the fact that owner Steve Schott had told
The Chronicle last week that he would increase the payroll to improve
the bullpen. At issue was the fact that Dotel will be arbitration
eligible after the season and, as a closer, he could command quite a
bit more in arbitration than his current $2.8 million salary.
According
to one source, Kansas City was to receive Triple-A third baseman Mark
Teahen and rising Class-A reliever Jairo Garcia (Astros minor- league
catcher John Buck also was to be part of the deal). The Royals were
said to be furious that the deal collapsed and now are believed to be
shopping Beltran to Boston instead." - San Francisco Chronicle
"The
Royals then began shopping Beltran all over again, and industry sources
said the Boston Red Sox might have positioned themselves to acquire
him." - Houston Chronicle
Larry Lucchino: "We are willing to rent a player." - Sox CEO on WEEI with D&C