Outshined_One

He'd be a nice right handed power threat off the bench. If he can play a corner OF spot, he might be worth a gamble.

More than likely not...however, if an owner really wanted to do that they could probably void the contract via the "good citizenship" clause that is standard in most MLB contracts. There is also a clause in most professional sports contracts which say that you will keep in good physical condition...so maybe abusing "drugs" would fall into that category. The lowlife attorney switch just flipped in my head! Two counters to that: 1) Is the good citizenship clause something that asks for the player to be selfless, asks for the player to contribute to the community or charities, or some sort of bare minimum "for the love of God don't break the law in any horrifying way" clause? If using PEDs was not banned by baseball at the time and the PEDs were legally acquired (be it over the counter or by prescription), then I'd say that the player would be following the terms of the contract if either of the latter two standards were applied. 2) PEDs not only keep you in good physical condition, but they enhance your physical condition. They aid in muscle recovery time, muscle growth, weight loss, anxiety problems, and so on. I'd argue that use of PEDs does not cause someone's physical condition to significantly deteriorate in the same way that, say, abusing alcohol, overeating, or abusing street drugs would. Perhaps some owners might try to void certain contracts...but I can't see it succeeding.

Andy isn't crazy. Angelos is, though.

I'd debate scrapping SD altogether in that deal and instead just try for Crisp.

Ahhhhhhhhhh Travis Snider...what should have been... *Rams head against the wall*

Here's the thing that bugs me... People react so freaking strangely to different kinds of cheating. The public's reaction to the cheating rarely has any correlation to how much of an actual advantage it gives the player who was caught cheating. When a guy standing on second base steals signs from the catcher, it's considered part of the game. When a manager goes out and barks at the umpire to start calling balls and strikes he wants them called, and gets what he wants, it's considered good managing. Hard slides into second base? Catchers blocking the plate? That's all part of baseball! Gaylord Perry? He was a Hall of Famer who was never proven to have doctored the ball. People usually talk about him in wistful tones reserved for better times long past. Well, guess what? THAT'S ALL CHEATING! Every single thing I listed above is illegal under the rules of baseball. When Eddie Harris was talking about the sheer number of chemicals on his body in Major League to help him gain an edge, it was funny. If someone on those Indians talked about the sheer amount of HGH, steroids, and greenies he had taken in a similar fashion, I don't think people would have found it funny. I would like someone to tell me with a straight face how PEDs give an unfair advantage to a player in a way worse than some of the examples I listed above. Keep it out of the legal context since certain illegal drugs (cocaine, amphetamines) can help aid player's performance, as can illegally obtained prescription drugs. Let's face it, we can make anything criminal if we really wanted to. However, I don't think Neifi Perez will be facing criminal prosecution any time soon. You can greatly help your team through cheating without engaging in criminal activities. You can also cheat in a criminal fashion, but not help your team in any meaningful way. Let's face it, the way cheating is handled in baseball is arbitrary, hypocritical, and sometimes downright disgraceful. Gaylord Perry is a Hall of Famer despite being heavily suspected of doctoring the ball, yet Barry Bonds might find himself blackballed from playing another game and kept out of the Hall of Fame because he's been suspected of steroid use? Tell me how this makes sense. I think this is one of the most utterly stupid things going on with baseball right now. They need to quit hyping this crap up like it'll clean up baseball once and for all. Quite frankly, I think it's so stupid that baseball has been throwing the spotlight on itself with all of this crap. They could have taken care of this internally, quietly, and effectively, but instead, they've been trying to do it loudly and publicly. It makes them look like they're actually doing something (who knows if they really are?), but it backfires on them through publicity that's way worse than it otherwise would be had they simply dealt with this quietly.

Oh thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!!

Quite the contrary; Castillo is one of the NFL's biggest spokesman to the Latino community. The double standard for PED use in baseball and football is laughable and arbitrary. I'll never be able to understand why it's a career-staining and career-ending thing in baseball, but in football, people simply don't give a crap. How in the world is it career ending? People give a crap in football. I'll grant you, ESPN still goes along pimping the guys it chooses. But the fact is that steroids and Merriman will forever be linked. There are baseball players playing right now who have come off steroid suspension and are still playing. The only way it's career ending is if your career was over anyway, Palmeiro, or you sucked enough with the steroids that nobody had any interest in taking you after the steroids. I guarantee that the next time some quality 28 year old player goes under suspension, he'll come right back and be worshipped by his fans, if he produces. Baseball will get to the point that the NFL is now, where there is forgiveness, once they actually start acting like the NFL. Everybody knows Giambi did it. When he came back and stunk, he was villified. But he apologized, got good again, and was worshipped. If Peyton Manning signed as a free agent with another team, played well, then got suspended, the reaction would be about how he came back. I think I used a poor choice of words when I went with "career-ending" since I was trying to encompass something a bit bigger than just getting smacked with a suspension. In baseball, the moment this shadow has been cast over baseball's biggest stars, it becomes a giant black spot on their careers. We've seen the effects of this. Guys like Mark McGwire, Raffy Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds might never make the Hall of Fame. Guys lose the good faith of the public. They lose endorsement contracts. Opposing fans crucify them whenever their team comes to visit their fields. In extreme cases, they've faced threats of federal prosecution. I'm not totally sure how GMs feel about signing these guys. Baseball players stand to lose millions of dollars. In plenty of cases, they've been disgraced. But, with football, it's nothing. Shawne Merriman still has lucrative endorsements. Luis Castillo is a freaking spokesman! If these guys get busted for steroid use, it's like no one cares; not even the NFL itself. People are happy to sit around and tear baseball to shreds on the speculation that steroids is a rampant problem staining baseball. But, with football? Nobody says a word. If a guy gets busted for steroid use, it's forgotten within weeks. It doesn't hurt their careers at all. Numerous former athletes have come out and said that PEDs are a problem in the sport. If you don't think PEDs are just as big of a problem in football as it is in baseball, then I have a bridge to sell you.

It's one thing to have a rich history adding to the game in a variety of ways. It's another thing when people get shrill because they think someone has dared violate their delusional dream about what the game once was and supposedly still is. It cuts both ways.

Quite the contrary; Castillo is one of the NFL's biggest spokesman to the Latino community. The double standard for PED use in baseball and football is laughable and arbitrary. I'll never be able to understand why it's a career-staining and career-ending thing in baseball, but in football, people simply don't give a crap.

Sounds like he got it from the same source we did. I'm not believing anything until I get confirmation from a more reliable source.

Unfortunately, at the rate the Vets are voting, Ron Santo might claim that title. Apparently they retooled the Veterans' Committee. I think this year is Ron Santo's best chance to get elected.

He has officially signed so the Cubs get the pick? Yep! :D

I'd also like to point out how favorable this contract is compared to the ones handed out to Linebrink and Cordero. Well done, Jimbo.

Terrific news! :D

Ned Colletti says "Hey, how's it goin?" I repeat...Brian Sabean says "Wazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzuuuuuupppppppp" Wayne Krivsky waves anxiously as he introduces Francisco Cordero Jim Bowden would respond to this post, but he's still serving time for a DUI.

Oddly enough, they'd have one of the best claims in the nation to the #2 spot if they hadn't screwed up against Tennessee. Virginia Tech probably would have the strongest case if they win out. Their only two losses have been a blowout to LSU and a close one to BC.

I'd go with Oklahoma (ugh) or the ACC Champion (your call from Boston College, Virginia Tech, and Virginia). If it's Hawaii, I think there would be riots.

I'd give it to him. He'll be able to get more per year on the open market.

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Oooooooooooo...good call. I forgot about that lovable attribute of Baker. Who will take the Will Ohman/Cliff Bartosh role of "did the team bus take off without him again?" role with the Reds?

I forgot how much I hated Gary Crowton. GO HOGS!

Rosenthal says it's a done deal:

That I disagree with this statement is a testament to just how bad this deal is. More than twice as much as Pierre's deal. Simply brutal. but Pierre is less than 1/2 the player Hunter is, which is saying a lot Indeed, but I wouldn't count on Hunter to continue to maintain his defense and ability to hit for power unless he utilizes other means as he gets older.

Yeah, but for 3 more years than Hunter, and he'll make $19M in those years, and he'll be old. Indeed, but I'm getting the feeling that Soriano's contract will become more and more tolerable as the years go on in terms of money if these kinds of contracts become the norm.