I'm holding off on writing about
the Johan Santana trade until he and the Mets ink an extension, lest I jinx the whole thing.
While we're waiting...
Joe Cowley offered
five thoughts after SoxFest, and the final one caught my eye:
1. Joe Crede: The whispers around the organization still seem to point
to the idea that if the third baseman shows up to camp and the back
looks strong he will be gone by the middle of Cactus League play. The
top suitor remains San Francisco, who may even have a deal in place
with the Sox, contingent on the back recovery. The big reason why?
Aaron Rowand. While talking to Williams in his first free-agent
discussion with the club this offseason, the second question out of
Rowand’s mouth – right after “That’s all the years can you give me?’’ –
was about the future of his good friend Crede. Don’t think for a second
that Rowand isn’t in the ear of Giants’ brass, campaigning for Crede to
come West and be locked up to a contract extension.
Not that I think Matt Cain is realistic, but when considering Rowand and former White Sox GM Ron Schueler will have Brian Sabean's ear, I'm feeling better about the Sox getting actual value out of this deal. Cowley takes more chances than any Sox reporter, but he's rarely completely off.
The Joliet Herald-News' Dick Goss just kinda rambles. My favorite(?) line:
New shortstop Orlando Cabrera should be inserted in the 2-hole and left
there, with new outfielder Nick Swisher hitting in an RBI spot, perhaps
sixth. Resist any and all temptation to bat Cabrera first and Swisher
second, unless it's to give Owens a day off against a particularly
tough left-hander.
He ends it with "Does any of this make any sense?" I hope that's rhetorical.
Following up on yesterday's theme,
Scott Merkin points out that Orlando Cabrera is a Type A free agent, and Jon Garland is a Type B. Keep it up, fellas.
Scott Podsednik needs work! He may have found some
with the Colorado Rockies:
The Rockies are finalizing details that will give Podsednik a chance to
regain a big-league job. Podsednik has a tentative agreement with the
Rockies on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to
big-league spring training, where he will bid for a backup job to
center fielder Willy Taveras.
Podsednik would battle incumbent Cory Sullivan, also a left-handed hitter, for the backup role.
Damaso Marte claims that
he hurt his neck in a car accident, though I wonder if insurance companies can call it a pre-existing condition.
Marte's neck was at the center of the controversy in 2005, when Ozzie Guillen questioned his manhood for possibly feigning an injury and threatened to cut him. On top of that, Marte hated Carlos Lee because El Caballo would slap his neck, among other things.
"Damaso Marte's Neck" doesn't top "Chet Lemon's Bluetooth" in my list of possible band names (staying away from Sox themes, I'd go with "Admiral Flavor"), but it wouldn't be a bad title for an instrumental.