Daly said he had other preliminary offers, in and out of coaching, but said: "I liked the potential here.

Strawberry ignored the club's preliminary $9 million, three-year offer, accepting a $20.25 million contract for five years from the Dodgers.

A total of 30 preliminary offers was presented.

Analysts here were somewhat dubious that Constellation's preliminary offer would gel.

The Giants gave all of their unrestricted free agents preliminary offers; Griffin, 27, became the first one to find a better deal.

"I think it might be just a preliminary offer," he said.

He added that preliminary offers for Mathis were too low to be seriously considered.

My lawyer explained - it was the preliminary offer - and it arrived.

Viola's response to the club's preliminary offers has been unenthusiastic.

The Tribune Company received several preliminary offers late yesterday from a series of private equity firms, according to people briefed on the auction.