Evening star., 1946-03-23
BIuege Won Give Up
Spence; Torres Case
Has GriH Puzzled
By Burton Howkins
Star Ssr& r.ry..nand.,<

L
ORLANDO, Fla, Mar. 23.-Wash.
ington's bidding for Third Basemar
Ken Keltner Of the Cleveland In.
dians has reached the sizzling stage
with the Mats bosses assured BY
General Manager Roger Peckin.
paugh of the Tribe that Keltner, q
holdout, definitely is on the market
Cleveland has requested Star
Spence, the Mats hard-hitting cen.
ter fielder. in exchange for Keltner
but Manager Ossie Bluege is reluc-
tant to negotiate such a swap
Bluege is willing to part with some
Of his pitching strength and also Is
offering Outf1elder George Binks as
bait, but says Spence will remain
with the Mats.
There's no doubt we could forget
about third base II we're fortunate
enough to get Keltner," says Bluege
I'm my book he's the best third base
man in the icague for years and thai
includes Red Rolfe when he was
with the Yankees" ,-..
Such praise from one of the finest
fielding third basemen in baseball
history indicates the Mats will go the
limit, in so far as they can without
noticeably weakening other posi-
tions, in an effort to obtain Keltner
Bluege admits Keltner's acquisition
would solve his most annoying prob
lem.
Mats Rivals Seek Keltner.
Cleveland, eager to fortify its
outfield, also is talking trade with
the Tigers and Red Sox, but the
Mats thus far have the inside track.
The Indians naturally would prefer
to strengthen Washington rather
than Detroit or Boston, which have
been rated pennant contenders with
the Yankees.
Detroit is in an unfavorable bar
gaining spot since Outflelder Hoot
Evers has been sidelined for three
months by broken ankle, thus
making it imperative for the Tigers
to cling to Outfelder Barney Nc
Coskey, sought BY the Indians.
Boston is tempting the Indians
with Outfielder George Metkovich
The Red Sox are certain to be the
Mats strongest competitors for
Keltner, since his right-handed hit
ting would be cherished in Fenway
Park where the left field fence casts
a shadow on the shortstop.
If the Mats fail to land Keltner
they probably will sign Billy urges,
recently released by the Boston
Braves. urges wired Bluege re-
questing job and Ossie sees in him
a dependable infielder who could
give Washington a commendable
performance for brief periods at
shortstop or third base.
Torres Expected at Camp.
Meanwhile the Mats are wonder
ing if Gil Torres, who is supposed
to enter the third-base battle, will
report. Pitcher Oliverio Ortiz says
Catcher Mike Guerra informed him
Torres had jumped to the Mexican
League.
Torres, who remained in Cuba
supposedly to straighten out family
affairs, was talking to Bernardo
Pasquel of the Mexican League after
agreeing to the Mats terms. Club
President Clark Griffith received
Torres signed contract on Thursday
night and doubts reports that the
Cuban will shift to the Mexican
League.
Guerra has wired Griffith that
he will leave Cuba on Monday and
head for the Mats training base
here.
The Mats were to battle Buffalo
here today and meet the Dodgers to-
morrow. Washingtons A and B
teams will clash on Monday.
Sliced from the squad yesterday
was Catcher Danny Reagan, who
was dispatched to Chattanooga
Bluege expects to make more cuts
in Washington's squad following
MONDAYS intra-so,lad pame