New Britain herald., 1919-12-24
SEVERAL bIG DEALS
 ARE HANGING FIRE
Baseball Trades to Be Numerous Before Spring Training Starts

Ney York, Dec. 24.--Whcther or not the big row now on in the Amer ican league is settled, it is certain there will be u lot of trading in both big leagues before the spring training season rolls around. There is scarce ly any talk of deals at present man. agers and club owners, awaiting tho outcome of the big fight in the John son circuit.
 7 An inkling of what may be expected in the way of trades shortly after the holidays has been given by such re- marks as Harry Frazee's that he is prepared to trade any player on the Red SoS with the exception of Harry Hooper, by tho numerous hints that have come from Washington that the fans there are tired of seeing the same players year in, year out, and by the fact that many clubs uhQues- tionably need strengthening in sey- erul positions. ,+eE .-
 Both Miller Huggins and John Me- Graw are richly supplied with pitch ing talent and have expressed then- selves as perfectly willing to stand pat on their tirst-string twirlers. Tn the catching department McGraw has four high class performers in Lew McCar- ty,, Mike Gonzales, Elmer Smith and Frank Snyder. #
 The Tanks have only one backstop who is sure of his job, Buddy Ruel. '"rruck" Hannah failed to give satis- faction last season, and while he may be retained there is serious need of another strong catcher on the Yan-
 In tho infield Wally Pipp and Roger IL; Hyfy at fy,St MI short for the Yankees, but third base is unsettled because Frank Baker has again threatened toFretire from base ball, and this time he appears to be determined. As prospects for third base Huggins has both Chick Fews- ter, rated as one of the most prom ising ball players in the league, and Bob Meusel, 8 Pacific coast star, of whom great things are predicted
 iAs for Derrill Pratt at second base, opinion differs greatly Some of the critics appear to regard him as trad ing material rather than a Yankee fixture but there does not seem to be any stronger candidate for the position unless Meusel makes good at third and Fewster can be used at second. SHaE# cG f" sl-'
 It is the outtield, however, that is worrying Huggins more than any, thing else. In the first place, Duffy Lewis, like Frank Baker, has threat ened to retire, and whether he makes good his threat or not an understudy must be found for him at once. Then there is the question of center field, where Ping Bodie played cratic ball last season, many of his errors proving costly. .4 M j#
 Bodies will retain his value as 8 hitter or pinch hitter as long as he remains in baseball, but the idea pre- yails that the outtield needs a stead fer player than Ping" has shown himself to be. Sam Wick, as the third outfelder, is regarded faVorably, but his game will have to improve slight ly for him to make sure of his place as q regular.
 Tn short the Yankees can use two strong players to advantage in the outileld. and as trading material have chiefly pitchers to offer If Derrill Pratt stays it is fairly certain that Chick Tewster. will be rewarded one of. the outheld berths, and in any event ihef latter, seems certain of a regular position no matter where he Is asked to play. .-
 
 With kauff, Burns and Young i'll Igthe outfield McGraw has little rea- son to desire a change among the fly ! chaserS, yet rumor has connected kauff's name with a trade whereby [ McGraw would obtain a desirable in | fielder. At first base it is merely @ question at present whether the voter- i4an Hal Chase or the newcomer, George f fkellE. gets the aSSignnlent | Frank, Frisch, whose sensational en- Itry as a. big leaguer was one of the l. features of the Giants play last sea | son. appears to be slated Tor second 1 base, while Art Fletcher seems sure 1 to be guardian of short field again. 1 Third base, however, presents a prob 1 lem, for McCraw. has indicated that | Heinie Zimmerman's days as a Giant
 are numbered.
 [ While McGraw has denied any offer 1 this winter for Roger Hornsby, the { Cardinal intielder, the rumor persists 1 that negotiations for his services be- 1 gun last summer will be renewed by 1 the Giants before long. As for the l Yankees. there have been rumors of 1 Derrill Pratt for sam Rice of the 1 Senators: Duffy Lewis for Rice if the 1 former returns to baseball; one or 1 two pitchers TOT one or the .3OO h1t- 1 ters on the Detroit team. most like 1 ly Heilman, who is as strong an out t. 1 fielder as a first baseman.
 1 Other baseball rumors in the ail
 are Pep" Young, the Detroit second ! baseman, for Joe Judge, the Senator ! first baseman; Everett Scott of the { Red Sox for Donie Bush of the Tigers
 and Robbie Roth of the Red Sox fo, l Yankee pitcher.
 | pT,EASITD WITH TEAM