LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers have expressed interest in free agent Greg Maddux, with pitching coach Jim Colborn speaking with the future Hall of Famer and manager Jim Tracy talking to the right-hander's brother.
The conversations were confirmed Tuesday by a baseball source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Maddux, who turns 38 in April, has won 289 major league games, including 15 or more in a record 16 straight seasons. He was 16-11 with a 3.96 ERA for the Atlanta Braves last year, then became a
free agent.
Tracy and Colborn made the calls at the behest of general
manager Dan Evans to gauge Maddux's interest in pitching for the
Dodgers, the source said.
Evans refused comment on the matter, citing his policy
concerning potential personnel moves, and Tracy and Colborn could
not be reached.
The Chicago Cubs made a two-year offer to Maddux last month and remain interested. General manager Jim Hendry said Tuesday he hasn't given Maddux or agent Scott Boras a deadline and plans to speak with Boras this week.
"We're just talking to four, five teams and are waiting to
see," Boras said Tuesday.
Maddux pitched for the Cubs from 1986-92 before joining the
Braves as a free agent. Colborn worked for the Cubs during Maddux's
time there and Maddux's brother, Mike, pitched for the Dodgers in
1999, when Tracy was the team's bench coach.
Maddux ranks second among active pitchers in wins, 21 behind
Roger Clemens. Maddux is 289-163 with a 2.89 ERA in his 18-year
career. He has pitched in nine division series, eight league
championship series and three World Series.