MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL - 2008 OFFSEASON NOTES.
February 5, 2008
The winter has not gone well for RHP Bartolo Colon, who is trying to rehab a torn rotator cuff. Colon, 34, and never a picture of health, has thrown just 155 2/3 innings over the past two seasons. He apparently did not use any of his rehab time to lose weight, a point of concern for those scouting him in winter league ball. Worse, according to one scout, was his lack of velocity. “We barely had him in the high 80s,” the scout says. “If he is not throwing 94, I am not sure where he fits in.”
That bad news for Colon could be good news for another rehabbing righthander, Kris Benson. Unlike Colon, Benson did have surgery and is working his way back. His agent, Gregg Clifton, says Benson will throw again for teams this week and has targeted the first 10 days of February to sign a contract. Many of the same teams that were interested in Colon probably also are interested in Benson, 33. The Royals, Indians, White Sox, and Phillies likely are on that list. “There’s really no hurry,” Clifton says. “He is getting through his rehab, so nothing would change if he signed a contract now or in a couple of weeks.”
Cubs LF Alfonso Soriano caused concern among North Side fans last week when he said, “I don’t know how I feel about my leg,” in response to a question about the health of his torn quadriceps, which clearly slowed him late last season. The Cubs got only 19 stolen bases out of him in 2007, and if he is still worried about the leg, they won’t get many more this year.
At one point in November ‘06, the Blue Jays thought they had C Rod Barajas signed to a two-year, 5.75 million deal. He mysteriously backed out, though, and instead took 2.5 million from the Phillies to be a backup last season, then hit .230 in 122 at-bats. Last week, the Blue Jays signed him to back up Gregg Zaun for 1.2 million.
The Yankees, who usually don’t tie up young players with multiyear deals, have reached a preliminary agreement with 2B Robinson Cano on a four-year, 30 million dollar contract. This is further proof that Cano, without much fanfare, is a centerpiece of the Yankees’ future. After he hit .342 in his second season, Cano struggled early in 2007, but he rebouned to hit .328 after May 17.
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