MAILBAG: April 26

Q: I know it's really early to be speculating, but when does Billy Beane decide that the A's aren't going to win the West or the wild card and unload Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon so he can save face and get something before it's too late? Will he even trade Giambi at all? This is all on the premise that the A's are out of the race come July. -- Lenny Corsentino, Hoboken, N.J.
PWG: If the A's are out of it on July 31, they could move Giambi, Damon and/or Jason Isringhausen. I'd be surprised if they are.

	Mark McGwire throws his bat after striking out looking in a game earlier this season. He has said that his latest injury is not career-threatening.

Q: With the uncertainty of Mark McGwire's injury, what are the chances the Cardinals could lure Will Clark out of retirement? -- Tony Harris, Rochester, N.Y.
PWG: Not great, but if I were Walt Jocketty, I'd try to get a Kevin Millar, Wil Cordero or Steve Cox.

Q: Do you think, when healthy, the Minnesota Twins have the best defensive outfield in the majors with Jacque Jones, Torii Hunter and Matt Lawton? -- Jon Sexe, Minneapolis, Minn.
PWG: Great question. When the Rockies have Todd Hollandsworth in left with Juan Pierre and Larry Walker and the Royals have Dee Brown in left with Carlos Beltran and Jermaine Dye, they are two very good outfields, as well as Boston when Darren Lewis is in left with Carl Everett and Trot Nixon. But Minnesota is right up there near the top. The best? Seattle when Anthony Sanders or Stan Javier plays left with Mike Cameron and Ichiro Suzuki.

Q: Even though the season is still young, are there any sort of trade rumors floating around about Seattle? Also, what is their situation in left field and should they try to acquire a solid everyday player for the position? -- Jason Heinly, Norwich, Conn.
PWG: Pat Gillick has been looking for a bat for left or third, but right now, nothing is available. Come June, he will look hard, and could do a platoon thing. Remember, the M's have pitching to trade with Paul Abbott coming back, and they are looking for a five hitter. They will be available.

Q: The Mets' early season offensive woes have been well-documented. Do you think Benny Agbayani and Jay Payton have the potential to develop into truly productive run-producers, or do you think neither is destined to be more than a fourth outfielder? Will the Mets have to go outside the organization for offensive help? -- Patricia, New York, N.Y.
PWG: Eventually, it may happen, but they want to see where they are with Timo Perez and Benny. Personally, I feel they need to find a young, quick leadoff hitter.

Q: What can the Rangers do, or who should they pursue in a trade, to try to help their horrendous pitching? Is a Curt Schilling or a Ugueth Urbina an option? Who else could possibly be up for a trade when the time comes? -- Marcus Gardner, Lubbock, Texas
PWG: So many unexpected teams are playing well that trades are tougher than ever. Urbina, Todd Jones and maybe Antonio Alfonseca can be available in the next month, but the calls are tough. The Rangers have four quality starts all season and have won them all. They have big, big, big needs.

Q: I am really impressed with the Royals' hitters again this season. Do you think that they can build big enough leads to maybe win 80 or 90 games? -- Jeremy Scott, Tampa
PWG: I thought they could win 82-93 games, but the way Roberto Hernandez and the rest of that bullpen have pitched, unless they can consistently get through the seventh with Jeff Suppan, Mac Suzuki, Blake Stein, Dan Reichert, et al, they are going to have their spirits broken.

Q: With Deion Sanders tearing up the International League, how will the Reds utilize him when he is available May 1? Are they enthusiastic enough to consider trading Dmitri Young or Alex Ochoa? -- Jim Bohmer, Charlotte, N.C.
PWG: Deion will be back on May 1, Young is very much available to someone who needs a very good hitter and Ochoa is not available.

Q: How do you think the Red Sox will deal with a possible return of John Valentin? Will they be able to squeeze his bat into the lineup? -- Rich, Boston
PWG: First, I think they will ask him to play a long time in Pawtucket to make sure his knee is all right. By then, they will have a better read on Shea Hillenbrand and their shortstops. If Valentin can do it physically, he will be their third baseman.

Q: I wanted to know, probably like most Padre fans, if there is any way that the Padres can acquire a solid shortstop? It seems like that has been their weakest position for years and that they haven't made too much effort to fill it. I mean, can Donaldo Mendez and Chris Gomez really cut it? -- Gary Horton, San Diego
PWG: Mendez may be all right in 2004, but this is 2001. I think that in any deal involving Sterling Hitchcock or a reliever they will look for middle infielders.

Q: Will the Giants continue to trot the offensively and defensively mediocre Marvin Benard out to center field every day? Any ideas for a replacement or at least a platoon option? -- Guy Sularz, San Francisco
PWG: Brian Sabean and Ned Colletti will never panic, but I think they may have to find someone to fill in center and/or right. Montreal's Milton Bradley would be a great fit, and the Giants might be able to deal.

Q: What do you think of Robert Fick of the Tigers? -- Brandon Susko, Nesquehoning, Pa.
PWG: I think he can hit, period. Let's face it, the Tigers are not very good, and if they could find a taker for Tony Clark -- who has worked hard to make a significant comeback -- he could play first.

	Ichiro is really starting to sound like a big-league superstar now.

Q: It seems that everyone is talking about Alfonso Soriano for AL Rookie of the Year. Given that it is still very early in the season, who would you consider the top five contenders really are at this point? -- C. Biron, Massachusetts
PWG: I think considering Ichiro Suzuki for that award is a horrid affront to the Japanese baseball culture, so I refuse to consider him. We have a long way to go, but I love David Eckstein in Anaheim, Paxton Crawford in Boston and C.C. Sabathia and Tim Drew in Cleveland.

Q: Who is to blame for the Tigers' horrible start, Phil Garner or GM Randy Smith? Will either one still be around at the All-Star break? Should they be? -- Mark Van Duinen, Zeeland, Mich.
PWG: Ownership. They promised everyone they'd step forward, then cut back. Not to be trusted.

Q: With the Phillies off to a hot start, and a new stadium on the way, do you think they can sign Scott Rolen in the offseason? What do you think they would have to do to keep Rolen? They instituted natural grass primarily for him -- is this enough or do the Phillies have to pull off a miraculous season to keep him from signing elsewhere? -- Sanket Kapadia, Bethlehem, Penn.
PWG: Right now, they will not trade Rolen. But understand there is a mixed opinion on his ability to hit. Some feel he does not hit good fastballs or make adjustments to his holes, and he may want $12 to $17 million for many years. Tough call. If I were Eddie Wade and they faded, I'd offer Rolen for Ryan Anderson and Antonio Perez and see what the Mariners say.

Q: When will the Pittsburgh Pirates fire Cam Bonifay for stupid free-agent signings such as Wil Cordero last year and Derek Bell this year? They would be better off playing minor-league players than wasting money on players who should retire. -- David Neiheiser, Birdsboro, Pa.
PWG: Has Cam made some mistakes? Yes. Has he made good decisions? Yes. The calls are tough when you're in the middle and the clock is ticking.

Q: Do you think that Marcus Giles can be an offensive player in the Braves' lineup? Also is Steve Finley going to get things going? -- Kevin Van Kirk, Koppel, Pa.
PWG: Unless Finley has a physical problem that he hasn't revealed, we'd all be shocked if he didn't come around. Giles is a good-looking young hitter, but he is awfully young.

Q: What can you tell me about Baltimore's Willis Roberts? -- Tommy Tusa, Vadnais Heights, Minn.
PWG: He's had injuries and spent a lot of time getting here, but he has a live arm and could have the best stuff of any Oriole pitcher.

Q: I want to know what your top five deserted-island discs would be. -- Dan Nemchek, New York, N.Y.
PWG: That's a very tough call, but I would say Little Feat's "Waiting for Columbus," The Rolling Stones' "Now," Warren Zevon's "Mr. Bad Example," Midnight Oil's "Scream in Blue" and Howlin' Wolf's "Greatest Hits." If I could take the boxed sets, they would be The Feat, the Byrds, Otis Redding, the Chess/Checker compilation from 2120 S. Michigan Ave. and Richard Thompson.