Major Transactions Happening In The MLB

In the middle of the football playoffs, people such as myself tend to forget that other sports exist. Still, major trades and acquisitions have been occurring in recent weeks in the MLB:

The St. Louis Cardinals have reached agreement on a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays that will send third baseman Scott Rolen to the Blue Jays for third baseman Troy Glaus, several major league sources said.

The deal is contingent upon the two players passing physical exams Monday, sources said.

According to a source with knowledge of the trade, the Cardinals only signed off on the deal after Glaus agreed to exercise his $11.25 million option for 2009. St. Louis management didn't want to give up three years of Rolen for only one year of Glaus, so Glaus had to commit to the option year as part of the deal.

Both players were also required to waive no-trade clauses.

A source told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark that Toronto will be responsible for the three years and $33 million left on Rolen's contract, while St. Louis will assume the $24.5 million owed Glaus through 2009. Since no cash is involved in the trade, it appears that no approval from commissioner Bud Selig's office is required.

Rolen, 32, is a career .283 hitter and seven-time Gold Glove winner with Philadelphia and St. Louis. Only Brooks Robinson, with 16 Gold Gloves, and Mike Schmidt, with 10, have won the award more often at third base.

Rolen has struggled with shoulder problems the last two seasons, and had a well-publicized falling out with manager Tony La Russa that set trade talks in motion.

Glaus, 31, has 277 career homers in 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Arizona Diamondbacks and Blue Jays. He hit 20 homers and drove in 62 runs in 115 games with Toronto last season before undergoing surgery in September to repair a nerve problem in his left foot.

I love this trade because I'm a big Troy Glaus fan even though he has been slacking in the numbers lately. Here's some simple math: Albert Pujols + Troy Glaus = Major Power.

Also in the MLB (and this saddens me as an Atlanta Braves Fan), the Atlanta Braves have reached a preliminary agreement to acquire center fielder Mark Kotsay from the Oakland Athletics, filling the hole created by the departure of Andruw Jones. The deal will be finalized once Kotsay passes a physical for Atlanta, where he is expected to fly to on Sunday, and assuming the commissioner's office approves the cash negotiated to be exchanged in the deal, sources say.

In return for Kotsay, the Braves are trading pitcher Joey Devine, and Oakland will assume $5.325 million of the $7.325 million owed to the center fielder for this year.

Kotsay, 32, played in 56 games in 2007 after having back surgery, hitting .214 with 15 extra-bases hits in 206 at-bats. In 2005, before Kotsay began having serious back trouble, he batted .280, with 51 extra-base hits and a .325 on-base percentage.

He has rated highly as a center fielder, and the Braves are trying to find a temporary center fielder for at least the start of the 2008 season, or until they deem top-prospect Jordan Schaefer ready to take over the position permanently. Even still, c'mon, Mark Kotsay? Is that the best the Braves can do to replace the almighty powerful Andruw Jones? Now you know this team is trying to rebuild.

The List of Names In The George Mitchell Report

Here is the long awaited blacklist of the names provided by George Mitchell of those who have used steroids both past and present and both dead and alive. Please note that this isn't a final list. There may be other players not caught or unrevealed yet.

First, it is interesting to note that many of these players are either overweight or unusually large (Jason Giambi, Troy Glaus)
Second, it is interesting to note that many of these players have emotional issues (John Rocker, Kyle Farnsworth, Milton Bradley).


Aaron Boone, Rafael Bettancourt, Bret Boone, Milton Bradley, David Bell, Dante Bichette, Albert Belle, Paul Byrd, Wil Cordero, Ken Caminiti, Mike Cameron, Ramon Castro, Jose Canseco, Ozzie Canseco, Roger Clemens, Paxton Crawford, Wilson Delgado, Lenny Dykstra, Johnny Damon, Carl Everett, Kyle Farnsworth, Ryan Franklin, Troy Glaus, Rich Garces, Jason Grimsley, Juan Gonzalez, Eric Gagne, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Giambi, Jeremy Giambi, Jose Guillen, Jay Gibbons, Juan Gonzalez, Clay Hensley, Jerry Hairston, Felix Heredia, Jr., Darren Holmes, Wally Joyner, Darryl Kile, Matt Lawton, Raul Mondesi, Mark McGwire, Guillermo Mota, Robert Machado, Damian Moss, Abraham Nunez, Trot Nixon, Jose Offerman, Andy Pettitte, Mark Prior, Neifi Perez, Rafael Palmiero, Albert Pujols, Brian Roberts, Juan Rincon, John Rocker, Pudge Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Scott Schoenweiis, David Segui, Alex Sanchez, Gary Sheffield, Miguel Tejada, Julian Tavarez, Fernando Tatis, Maurice Vaughn, Jason Varitek, Ismael Valdez, Matt Williams, Kerry Wood, Brady Anderson, Manny Alexander, Rick Ankiel, Jeff Bagwell, Barry Bonds

Some Comments on Certain Players:

1. No wonder Aaron Boone, a man of little power, was able to hit that clinch home run to win the series against Boston years ago.

2. The rage Milton Bradley showed against that umpire stems down to the steroids toying with his mind.

3. Mike Cameron is another man of little power so I can see why he would take steroids.

4. We all know Jose Canseco was the tattle-tale of this whole mess.

5. Only a man of steroids could pitch at the age Roger Clemens was pitching at and make it look good.

6. Johnny Damon? Talk about random. I guess pure contact and speed wasn't enough for this little guy.

7. When I watched Kyle Farnsworth pitch on the Braves, he was scary. He would throw the ball in a wild rage. Now I know why.

8. No! Not Troy Glaus! He's my favorite player. Anyway, now I know why his contact in baseball games was rated 60 while his power was rated 95.

9. Eric Gagne is another prime example of a player who needed surgery and recovery time and figured steroids is the best way to aid himself in recovering faster.

10. Nomar Garciaparra was a guy who became a nobody once he left Boston so I'm guessing through steroids he could put home runs on the board and become a well-known player again.

11. Jason Giambi's enormous size and baby-face attitude speaks for himself. Also, he wanted his brother Jeremy to get in on the action.

12. I have no explanation as to why Jay Gibbons used steroids. That's just random.

13. Of course, we all know Mark McGwire's and Rafael Palmiero's story.

14. I feel bad for Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. Here are more examples of amazing pitchers plagued by injuries who thought steroids was the answer to recovery.

15. Andy Pettitte is one of the most controversial names on the list in my opinion. I think the Yankees may want to think twice before resigning in. I have no explanation as to why Andy Pettitte would take steroids, but I know many people who are Pettitte fans, especially one fan in particular. Let's see how loyal she is to him once she finds out he's a fake.

16. Oh wow. Albert Pujols is here. I gasp in disbelief. He was the best player in baseball. If he took steroids, no one can be trusted.

17. John Rocker's hate and racial speech stems from steroids.

18. I bet the Home Run Race between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire was really a race about who can consume the most steroids in one year.

19. Now I know where all of Gary Sheffield's enormous power and violent swing comes from.

20. Jeff Bagwell seems more like a fossil. He's been playing for years belting out home runs and loved by many. Too bad he was a fake all these years.

21. And of course, the grand daddy of them all, Barry Bonds. At least Barry Bonds doesn't have to feel alone anymore or feel like the whole world was out to get him.

It seems like every player in this generation of baseball who has done something noteworthy or good deserves to be under the cloud of suspicion. I have a great feeling that this will be the first of many lists. I also get the feeling (and I know this should raise a big debate) that steroids in baseball have existed for years and years, but the MLB didn't want to blow it open because kids love the long ball and the prices of attendance have continued to rise. In other words, I smell a conspiracy and until Jose Canseco tattled because of his jealousy, the MLB wanted to keep this a secret. Think about it. The number of all-stars, CY young winners, and MVPs included in this list is tremendous. You mean to tell me since the early 90s the MLB was not aware of what these players were doing? I highly doubt that. I also believe this is connected to the infamous baseball strike that occurred in the 90s. The MLB needed to gain fans back so they allowed players to artifically increase their strength in order to provide a better show. I don't think its a coincidence that right after the strike McGwire and Sosa were slamming home runs left and right. I believe the MLB and the union knew about the steroid issue, but wanted to keep a lid on it. Also, yes steroids are bad for kids, but none of the kids would have known that their favorite players were using steroids. Steroids actually saved baseball and this entire witch hunt has destroyed baseball. However, once the government got involved, they couldn't keep it a secret any longer because steroids are illegal and MLB can't change that law.

Jose Guillen And Jay Gibbons Are Next On MLB's Drug Policy List

Jose Guillen and Jay Gibbons were suspended Thursday for the first 15 days of next season for violating baseball's drug policy, an indication how the sport might treat any players named in the Mitchell steroids investigation. The pair were linked in media reports to the purchase of human growth hormone. So were Gary Matthews Jr., Rick Ankiel, Troy Glaus and Scott Schoeneweis, but Major League Baseball decided there was "insufficient evidence" to determine they committed a doping violation.

Jose Guillen will not let this go without a fight. He told ESPNdeportes.com's Enrique Rojas that his lawyers will appeal the sanction, but he will not comment further on the case. Guillen instructed the players' association to file a grievance, which would be decided by an arbitrator.

Jay Gibbons, on the other hand, will not challenge his penalty. He accepted responsibility and apologized. "I am deeply sorry for the mistakes that I have made. I have no excuses and bare sole responsibility for my decisions," the Baltimore outfielder said. "Years ago, I relied on the advice of a doctor, filled a prescription, charged the HGH, which is a medication, to my credit card and had only intended to help speed my recovery from my injuries and surgeries."

As more and more steroid users are revealed, one wouldn't be surprised at this point to learn that these players are household names loved by many. One has to laugh at this point at the desperate search for these users. The MLB steroid search has become so extremely ridiculous that this scenario can be ranked right up there with the witch hunts, Spanish Inquisition, and the Communist scare that took place in history. Though I don't condone what Jay Gibbons did, I must say he seemed truly sorry and that was the most sincerest apology I have heard from a player who was caught taking steroids. Gibbons seems like a mild-mannered guy who was caught in a mistake. However, Jay Gibbon's healthy reason has to be the most comical reason I have heard from a player who was caught taking steroids. Isn't his excuse an oxymoron? If steroids are supposed to destroy the body in the long run, then wouldn't it seem pointless for one to take steroids to help him recover his body from injury?

The Angels Acquire Speedy Torii Hunter

Outfielder Torii Hunter and the Los Angeles Angels reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday night on a five-year contract thought to be worth $90 million. The 32-year-old becomes the much-needed hitter the Angels sought to protect Vladimir Guerrero in the batting order. Hunter hit .297 with 28 homers and 107 RBIs for the Minnesota Twins this year and is a seven-time Gold Glove winner. He finished 15th in AL MVP balloting and was on the AL's All-Star team for the second time in his career. Hunter will join a talented outfield that includes Gary Matthews Jr., Garret Anderson, Guerrero, Juan Rivera and Reggie Willits. The addition of Hunter makes the Angels' outfield one of the fastest, if not the fastest outfield in the game.

Since I can remember the Angels have always been a powerful force in the AL. The combination of power and speed from strong hitters mixed with the pitching of Colon and Lackey proves to be a sick team. With the addition of Garland, look for the Angels to perform very good next season, as they always do. Though they aren't my favorite team, they did have my favorite player, Troy Glaus, who won the World Series MVP in 2002.