BALTIMORE - The Baltimore Orioles have officially announced that they will not be bringing back outfielder Sammy Sosa or first baseman Rafael Palmeiro.
"At this point, we are heading in a different direction," club executive vice president Mike Flanagan said.
Palmeiro and Sosa have indicated that they would like to return to baseball in 2006.
But the prospects of either re-joining the Orioles dwindled dramatically after both suffered through terrible seasons.
Sosa, who turned 37 Saturday, came to the Orioles in a Feb. 2 trade with the Chicago Cubs for second baseman Jerry Hairston and two minor leaguers. After hitting 35 or more homers in each year since the strike-shortened 1994 season, Sosa was expected to provide an immediate offensive boost while batting cleanup behind Tejada.
Instead, he hit just .221 with 14 homers (his fewest since 1992) and 45 RBIs in 102 games.
Palmeiro's season included collecting his 3,000 career hit in July, and within weeks, being suspended for failing a drug test. Palmeiro, 41, continues to deny he intentionally took steroids, but he has no concrete proof as to why stanozolol was found in his system during a May drug test.
Both players are now unrestricted free agents. Palmeiro is expected to attempt a comeback to help restore his reputation, and Sosa needs just 12 homers to reach the No. 600 milestone.
I disagree. Rafi might be back in Texas as a DH/Fill in. I think the Twins could use his hand as well. And if he wants to play 1st, well, I think you could find a few jobs for him - Maybe Washington? I don't think he's ruined.
Actually, I think Sammy's in worse shape. He's gonna sign somewhere for very little money. I figure back to the NL.
We'll be back right after order has been restored here in the Omni Center.
Originally posted by AWArulzHe's gonna sign somewhere for very little money. I figure back to the NL.
Where he can't DH? I don't think so. Sammy is ultra-damaged goods right now, but if the Red Sox let Johnny Damon go and trade Manny Ramirez without getting any outfield help in return, I wouldn't be shocked to see him wind up there. If I hadn't already shredded my Red Sox Nation membership card, I would just at this thought.
"He is the most overrated piece of crap in the league. He bitched and whined after he got his ass beaten in New England last year, so the NFL changed the rules. Then he got his ass beaten in New England again. Every year he's the top MVP candidate. Every year he's supposed to be the best. Every year he's going to carry the Colts to the Super Bowl. And every single year he goes to New England and gets his ass beaten. And his brother's a whiny little bitch." -A friend of mine, on Peyton Manning
Originally posted by gugs if the Red Sox let Johnny Damon go and trade Manny Ramirez without getting any outfield help in return, I wouldn't be shocked to see him wind up there. If I hadn't already shredded my Red Sox Nation membership card, I would just at this thought.
No one's worn Roger's #21 since he left, right? The thought of Sammy wearing it is kind of icky.
"You know what you need? Some new quotes in your sig. Yeah, I said it." -- DJFrostyFreeze
Ricciardi needs to be moving big salary guys like Mondesi, Stewart and Delgado but he can't find any takers because they are so overpriced. That is the fault of the previous GM, not J.P.
Thread rated: 5.50
#
