Isom, the hospital's chief of cardiothoracic surgery who performed heart surgery on comedian David Letterman a year ago, led a team of 10 who performed the operation. The Red Sox legend had a pacemaker inserted at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla., in November but has continued to suffer from shortness of breath because of mitral regurgitation. Williams was transferred to Shands Hospital later that day and flew to New York Sunday. New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is expected to get the largest contract among those who filed and Oakland's newly acquired outfielder, Johnny Damon, also will get a large raise. Players and teams exchange proposed figures Thursday, with hearings scheduled for the first three weeks of February.
Most players agree to contracts before hearings.
Jeter's agent, Casey Close, and the Yankees are attempting to reach agreement on a multiyear contract before Thursday's exchange of figures. New York also is still active on the free-agent front. Outfielder Henry Rodriguez and the Yankees are close to finalizing a contract, two baseball sources familiar with the negotiations said yesterday on the condition they not be identified. Rodriguez would platoon with Shane Spencer, who is coming back from knee surgery, and also could see some time at designated hitter along with David Justice. In addition, the union filed for pitcher Ariel Prieto, who was designated for assignment by Oakland last week.