What started as a search to bring new leadership on the field to the Laurel
franchise has apparently turned into an all out bidding war over 26 year old
Floyd Hoerst. The Lynx had offered the CF prospect the managerial position
only to find that Chicago had offered Hoerst (rhymes with worst) a AAA
contract.
Said GM Sean Dawson,"Our original offer of $250,000 was substancially more
than the $65,000 Chicago offered for the AAA contract. However, we have
been informed by Mr. Hoerst's agent that Chicago has pulled a Jerry
Reinsdorf and offered Mr. Hoerst an outrageous contract that exceeds $4
million for the 1998 season."
Being a smaller market team that faces competition from Washington to the
south and Cockeysville to the north there was speculation that Laurel could
not match the offer made by Chicago. However, the Lynx GM stated "we
really want to make Floyd a member of the Laurel franchise, and we believe
that he can lead us to a division title in a few years. We are offering Mr.
Hoerst a one year deal for $1.5 million with a $3.5 million signing bonus.
The offer expires at 12 tomorrow, but we expect Floyd and his agent to seek
a better offer from Chicago. Unfortunately this could be our final offer"
In related news Laurel is nearing completion on a deal that may add to it's
horrible bullpen. Details could be relased on a deal as soon as Monday
night.
