Mo Money?

Penguins roster

Jagr hesitates because recent short-term contracts signed by Paul Kariya of Anaheim and Eric Lindros of Philadelphia are worth about $1 million more per season.

Harold Baldwin, co-owner blamed the latest salary escalations.

"Roger (Marino, the other co-owner) and I both feel that we've made a very fair and generous offer to Jaromir," Baldwin said Monday. "But we haven't officially been given the word that the deal is unacceptable."

"In fact, the last official word Roger and I had was that it's acceptable and can go to documentation. Then, the Kariya and Lindros things came around, and from what we can gather is that Jaromir is reconsidering."

Baldwin seems frustrated with the latest developments and said the teams must "draw the line at some point" and hinted that the Penguins might trade Jagr if he rejects the deal.

At that point Marino, apparently not wanting to stir things any more, jumped in and said, "But we want to keep him."