Sox are all eyes with Radke on hill

About seven teams, including Boston, have made inquiries about the starting pitcher the Twins probably can't afford to keep. FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Only five miles separate

Friday, March 3rd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

About seven teams, including Boston, have made inquiries about the starting pitcher the Twins probably can't afford to keep.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Only five miles separate the spring training headquarters of the Red Sox and Minnesota Twins, but, figuratively, the distance can sometimes seem like light years, especially for the Twins.

While the Red Sox add to their roster -- obtaining outfielder Carl Everett over the winter, then signing him to a three-year, $21 million deal -- the Twins once again are being forced to subtract.

Two years ago, Minnesota was financially obligated to deal off second baseman Chuck Knoblauch to the New York Yankees. This spring, it's happening again.

Brad Radke, the team's best starting pitcher and a 20-game winner three seasons ago, is entering the final year of his contract, and contract extension talks have produced a stalemate. The Twins offered Radke a three-year deal worth $21 million, while Radke and his agent countered with a three-year, $26 million deal.

Beyond the money gap, Radke wants language in the contract that would allow him to demand a trade after the second year, a proposition that the Twins have rejected outright.

Radke's agent has rejected any overtures to continue talks.

``Right now,'' said Twins general manager Terry Ryan, ``it's just status quo. My position hasn't changed -- still want to re-sign him.''

But the Twins' inability to reach an extension with Radke has some big-market teams smelling blood. Last night, as the Red Sox and Twins opened their Grapefruit League schedule at Hammond Stadium, scouts ringed the seats behind home plate, and it's doubtful they were there to watch the parade of first- and second-year players who fill out the Twins' lineup.

No fewer than seven teams, including the Red Sox, have made inquiries about Radke. Each has been told the same thing by Ryan: We're not interested -- right now. But that could change in a hurry, since the Twins had baseball's smallest payroll last year ($15 million) and are likely to have that distinction again.

Ryan has grown weary of the questions, both from rival general managers and the media.

``It doesn't do us any good to talk about this,'' sighed Ryan last night. ``The best thing right now is to let Brad go out and pitch. Obviously, the better he pitches, the better it is for us.''

For the Red Sox, Radke would be the perfect addition to the starting rotation, slotting behind Pedro Martinez and in front of veterans Ramon Martinez, Jeff Fassero and Tim Wakefield.

A handful of other clubs -- including the Reds, Rockies, Mets, A's and Devil Rays -- would similarly welcome him, either to augment their staff or to become their ace. It's hardly overstatement to suggest that Radke could mean the difference between a pennant or an early playoff exit for some clubs.

When the Red Sox and Twins talked last December at the winter meetings, the Twins reportedly asked for a package that included both Steve Lomasney and Dernell Stenson, arguably the top two prospects in the Boston system. The Red Sox quickly ended the talks.

Privately, the Sox have expressed some doubts about Radke.

``Check out his lifetime record,'' said one official, noting that the 27-year-old is 66-68 in his career.

But that may have been little more than posturing on the part of the Sox, not wanting to up the ante further, since there's little doubt that Radke is a quality starter. His changeup is among the best in the American League, and his command is so extraordinary that some scouts have labeled him ``the poor man's Greg Maddux.''

In the meantime, Radke continues to be the object of affection for nearly every team intent on upgrading its rotation, and the talk will continue to swirl.

``I'm trying not to think about (the prospect of Radke leaving),'' said teammate Eric Milton, who came over from the Yankees in the Knoblauch swap. ``That definitely would be tough.''

``I don't think about it much,'' shrugged Radke after yielding a three-run homer to Troy O'Leary in the first of two innings he worked last night. ``Things will happen for a reason. If I sign here, great. If not, I'll move on. I'm not worrying about it now. I'm just concentrating on baseball.''

The Twins, ever wary of the bottom line, don't have that luxury.