ANAHEIM ANGELS
Assigned Ps Mo Sanford, Rob Banano, Darryl Scott
and Brian Cooper and Cs Ben Molina and Jaime Burke
to their minor league camp. [3/3]
The only surprise here is that Mo Sanford is still around to throw his
wicked breaking stuff. Here’s hope he’s got the aptitude to coach,
because it doesn’t look like he’ll be one of the “expansion pitchers.”
ATLANTA BRAVES
Signed GM John Schuerholz to an extension through 2003. [3/5]
I applaud this move! I salute this move!
I believe in accountability, after all, and its nice to see that
Feldzeugmeister Schuerholz is willing to stick around past the
life of the Big Cat and Walt Weiss contracts.
CINCINNATI REDS
Signed CF Midre Cummings to a minor league contract.
May get a shot as the fourth or fifth OF for the always-contending
Indians (of Indianapolis).
DETROIT TIGERS
Released RHP Robert Ellis. [3/3]
Even Randy Smith will give up on a guy who throws 90 once in awhile, but
Ellis’ control problems and injury history would scare off the most
brazen optimist.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Signed RHP Antonio Osuna to a two-year contract with club
options for 2000 and 2001. [3/3]
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Signed RHP Robert Ellis to a minor league contract. [3/4]
Speaking of brazen optimism…
MINNESOTA TWINS
Signed 3B Ron Coomer to a three-year contract. [3/1]
I’m as happy to see a useful minor league veteran like Coomer break
through and get generously compensated as the next guy, but is a
three-year commitment to a 31 yo really sensible? In an organization
with Corey Koskie pounding his way up the chain?
MONTREAL EXPOS
Signed C Chris Widger to a four-year contract with a club
option for 2002. [3/1]
As I’ve been reminded by an Expos fan, the organization has, to date,
still only developed one catcher of any value (some fella named
Carter), so this could be a case of overreaction to secure a handy
catcher. Since he’s going to be pushed by Bob Henley at some point
in the next two years, there’s a good chance that Widger’s multi-year
commitment will have value to shopping GMs.
NEW YORK YANKEES
Assigned Ps Ryan Bradley, Luis DeLosSantos,
Darrell Einertson, Katsuhiro Maeda and Alberto
Castillo, and Cs Rene Pinto, Jamie Torres and
Victor Valencia to their minor league camp. [3/4]
No surprises here, although Maeda was gone so fast I don’t think anyone
found out what color his hair is this time of year.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Signed 3B Scott Rolen to a four-year, $10 million contract. [3/3]
Its an open question which direction the organization is heading as it
tries to shrug off unfortunate commitments to free agent veterans, but
making a quick commitment to Rolen is a fine move.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Assigned Cs Tim Edge and Jonathan Sweet and INF
Garrett Long to their minor league camp. [3/4]
Nothing to say here. Spring’s shaking down, and you don’t need to carry
six catchers
too far into March.
Thank you for reading
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