More Bench Bats For the Minimum

The last few days have been particularly amusing in the sense that teams are getting rid of their sunk costs, players who instantly become linked to several other teams upon being released. First came Gary Sheffield, released by the Tigers despite being owed a hefty $14 mil. The Phillies followed by releasing Geoff Jenkins, seemingly in an attempt to replace him with Sheffield.

Then reports circulated that both Jenkins and Sheffield had made their way onto the Marlins radar. And today we learn that Sheffield has interest from three teams, of which two are the Reds and Phillies. But certain plans may have been wrenched today when it became evident that Andruw Jones is going to make the Rangers’ final roster.

By releasing Frank Catalanotto, the Rangers seem to be doing whatever they can to ensure that Jones breaks camp with the team. His story is too recent to be forgotten, so forgive me for not waxing poetic on the situation, but the Reds and Phillies were certainly banking on his being demoted or released. Both teams seem to be searching for a righty bench batter, and while Dave covered why Sheffield would not fit in with the Phillies current roster, Jones would have been a legitimate defensive replacement for the major league minimum capable of pinch-hitting and filling in when the inevitable injury bug strikes Shane Victorino or Jayson Werth.

Speaking of Catalanotto, guess who has interest? That’s right, the Florida Marlins, who recently released Dallas McPhereson, acquired Ross Gload from the Royals, and traded Robert Andino to the Orioles for Hayden Penn, all the while being linked to both Jenkins and Sheffield. The Marlins may have more interest in Catalanotto than either of Jenkins and Sheffield given his utility status, which would normally create a bidding war for the man with 499 dingers, but since anything above the minimum would only subtract from the amount owed by the Tigers, no such war will surface.

Thankfully, with the Phillies and Braves kicking off the season in just a couple of days the wacky offseason we have just experienced will come to a close, but now I’m curious to see who gets released each day and where they are immediately linked to playing. The watch is on for Jenkins, Sheffield, Catalanotto and McPhereson, as Jones looks poised to make the Rangers club.