The Diamondbacks seemed willing to explore a deal to send Schilling to the New York Yankees while several teams were interested in Sexson.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman arrived Tuesday, and a few hours later was talking to Diamondbacks GM Joe Garagiola Jr. at one of the tables that line the Arizona Biltmore Resort.
Neither would talk about a possible trade.
Schilling, who no longer has an agent but represents himself, has said he didn't want to pitch in the American League. But he loves a big stage, and there is none bigger than Yankee Stadium.
Diamondbacks managing general partner Jerry Colangelo did not return a telephone message, but he told KTVK-TV that he had spoken with Schilling and the right-hander was willing to consider waiving his no-trade clause under the right circumstances.
"If there's a deal that makes sense for him and for us, I think he has an open mind now, and I appreciate that," Colangelo said.
Schilling will earn $12 million next season on the final year of his contract, half of it deferred. Arizona wants to cut its payroll to about $80 million next season.
Colangelo confirmed that the Diamondbacks are trying to come up with a deal that would satisfy Schilling and get Arizona something valuable in return before he leaves as a free agent.
"So would this make sense under the right circumstances?" Colangelo said. "Make the best deal you can in terms of what you get in return before that season plays out. Hopefully, we might be able to get to that point."
Yankees first baseman Nick Johnson and second baseman Alfonso Soriano could be trade possibilities.
"Nick Johnson is a prospect. We think he's potentially a guy who could hit 30-35 home runs a year, and that would be a welcome addition, too," Colangelo said. "So would Soriano because of what he brings -- the power, the speed, basestealing, et cetera."
Colangelo confirmed that the Diamondbacks are talking with the Brewers about Sexson, who will earn $8.6 million next season. If Arizona can deal Schilling, and perhaps other players -- second baseman Junior Spivey and closer Matt Mantei are possibilities -- they could afford Sexson.
The Brewers are under orders from their board of directors to slice payroll to the $30 million range, and that will make it difficult to afford to keep Sexson and Geoff Jenkins, who will make $8.25 million this season.
- MICELI JOINS ASTROS: Right-hander Dan Miceli became the first of the 210 free agents to sign, agreeing Tuesday to a $600,000, one-year contract with the Houston Astros.
Houston acquired the 33-year-old reliever from the New York Yankees on July 29 and he went 1-1 with a 2.10 ERA in 30 innings with the Astros. He also pitched for Colorado and Cleveland.
- STEINBRENNER SLAMS ROOKIE VOTE: George Steinbrenner called the voting for AL Rookie of the Year a "farce" and ripped two baseball writers for leaving his outfielder, Hideki Matsui, off their ballots.
The New York Yankees owner castigated Bill Ballou of the Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette and Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, who said veterans who come from the Japanese leagues shouldn't be eligible for the award.
Kansas City shortstop Angel Berroa won the award by a vote of 88-84 Monday, the closest rookie race in 24 years. Matsui and Berroa were both left off two ballots.
"I firmly believe that a great injustice has been done to Hideki Matsui," Steinbrenner said in a statement Tuesday, adding that the two reporters "made up their own rules."
"This year's voting farce, where the appropriate qualifications for the award were blatantly ignored, clearly demonstrates unfairness to first-year players from Japan. And that must be stopped," Steinbrenner said.
The Baseball Writers' Association of America, which conducts the vote, said it abides by the eligibility rules set by the commissioner's office.
"We have honored Japanese players with Rookie of the Year awards in the past and will probably do so in the future," BBWAA secretary-treasurer Jack O'Connell said in an e-mail.