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| The New York Times released a report on Tuesday citing a source close to the situation that former Cubs' great Sammy Sosa tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug in 2003. Sosa testified under oath at a 2005 hearing that he never took illegal PEDs. |
Our View: Many people have suspected Sosa for a long time, but it looks like the proof is finally here. Not only will Sosa's chance at the Hall of Fame take a hit, but if these reports are accurate he could face some legal troubles stemming from his testimony in 2005. We will update any more information on this story as it is released.
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| Sammy Sosa won't likely land in Florida with the Marlins if he returns to the majors in 2009, according to the Hot Stove Blog on MLB.com. |
Our View: The Marlins want to head into spring training with a young crop of outfielders, namely John Raynor and Scott Cousins, competing for a role.
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| Sammy Sosa would like to play this season, but it won't be with the Texas Rangers, as GM Jon Daniels told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, "I don't think we'll pursue Sammy." |
Our View: Sosa hit 21 home runs with 92 RBI for the Rangers in 2007, but he also struck out 112 times in 412 at-bats, with just 34 walks, for a .311 OBP.
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| Sammy Sosa is still waiting for an offer to return to the majors, according to ESPN. Sosa said, "I still don't have an offer and I shouldn't be looking for offers out there. Any team who wants to sign me should have the initiative and make an offer." |
Our View: He previously considered retiring after the World Baseball Classic in March, but noted that he is in good physical shape and hopes to make a comeback in the bigs. He did not play in 2008, but blasted 21 homers with Texas in 2007, giving him 609 for his career.
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| Sammy Sosa will retire after the World Baseball Classic in March of 2009, SportsTicker confirms. "It’s part of the plan. It would be great if folks can see me for the last time wearing the uniform of the (Dominican Republic) National Team," Sosa tells the Dominican newspaper Hoy. The slugger adds that he is not currently looking for a major league job. |
Our View: We imagine the U.S. squad will counter with Mark McGwire and the Cuban club will call upon Raffy Palmeiro.
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| The Royals denied a report on ESPNDesportes.com that they were expressing renewed interest in signing Sammy Sosa to a contract, according to the KC Star. "We’re very comfortable with the current group of players we have in camp competing for spots on our 25-man roster," GM Dayton Moore said. "There is no immediate desire to acquire other players through free agency." He might end up being a decent fit in Kansas City, but for the moment the team doesn't want to give him the guaranteed starting job that he's seeking. |
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| Sammy Sosa is still hoping to play in 2008, but he is holding out for a full-time role after producing 21 HR and 92 RBI in just 412 AB last season for the Rangers. "There are some teams that have expressed an interest," agent Adam Katz said. "But he's looking for full-time work. We have part-time offers. But at this point we don't have a deal." Sosa was quite productive last year, but if he is waiting for a full-time job he could end up waiting an awful long time. He should be happy if a team will give him another 400 AB this season, and if he does, he figures to produce enough power to be an asset in a league specific scenarios. |
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| Despite being a part-time player now, Sammy Sosa intends on returning to play again in 2008, according to the Dallas Morning News. "If it's not here, it will be somewhere else, believe me," said Sosa. "I feel great. Definitely, I want to play another year." Sosa has 17 homers and 74 RBI on the year, although he's hitting just .247. |
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| Sammy Sosa's at bats continue to be limited, the AP reports. Ron Washington said that beginning on Thursday, Sosa would start just three of the next nine games. |
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| Sammy Sosa will be seeing much more time off over the rest of the season. The Rangers promoted Jason Botts from Triple-A Oklahoma Wednesday, and he is expected to be the team's primary DH. GM Jon Daniels and manager Ron Washington met with Sosar before Wednesday's game to tell him his playing time will be cut. "(Sosa) is a professional," Daniels said to SportsTicker. "We wanted to explain to him the situation and why are we doing this. He just needed a couple of minutes to think about it. Given the circumstances, I thought he took it well." |
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| Sammy Sosa left Saturday's game after taking a Cliff Lee pitch in the head, but he's not expected to miss much time going forward. In fact, he's got a chance to play Sunday. |
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| Sammy Sosa joined the 600 homer club Wednesday, connecting against his former team, the Cubs. Sosa is the fifth player in baseball history to get to that number, joining Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays. He's now hitting .241 for the year, with 11 homers and 51 RBI. |
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| Sammy Sosa was given the night off Thursday in Pittsburgh even though the Pirates were starting a left-handed pitcher, the AP reports. Ron Washington said Sosa will start Friday and Saturday in Cincinnati but sit out again Sunday. "I'll get him back in there (Friday)," Washington said. "I just wanted to get (OF Victor Diaz) to play." |
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| Rangers manager Ron Washington said that after Tuesday in Pittsburgh, Sammy Sosa would play only one or two more games during the six-game stretch on the road against National League teams, according to the AP. "I would have to run him out there in the outfield and I don't want to wear him out," Washington said. |
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| Sammy Sosa was not in the starting lineup Wednesday as manager Ron Washington game him the day off, according to the AP. Sosa struck out pinch-hitting in the ninth. He'll get another day off Thursday because the team is idle. Washington said Sosa will play all three games against Boston over the weekend as he tries to reach the 600 home run milestone at home. |
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| Sammy Sosa, who is 0-for-9 at the plate since being beaned in the head on Thursday, got the day off on Sunday, according to the AP. Rangers manager Ron Washington said that he doesn't believe Sosa is dealing with any lingering effects from the beaning, and the slugger should be back in the lineup on Tuesday. |
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| Sammy Sosa was back in the lineup at DH for the Rangers on Friday, one day after being hit in the helmet by a pitch. It was not a grand return, however, as he went 0-for-4 at the plate, leaving five men on base. |
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| Sammy Sosa was forced out of the second game Thursday after being hit in the helmet by a pitch. Sosa was down for a few minutes, but ultimately walked off the field under his own power. |
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| Sammy Sosa hit two home runs Thursday and is finally cemented as an "everyday player" for the Rangers, Ron Washington told the Dallas Morning News. "Sammy earned it," Washington said. |
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| Sammy Sosa got Wednesday off after going 1-for-7 with three strikeouts in the opening two games, the AP reports.
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| Sammy Sosa will start one of the first two games of the year, but Ron Washington hasn't decided on the order yet, the Rangers official site reports. Nelson Cruz will start the game Sosa does not, and Cruz will also play as a defensive replacement when Sosa starts. |
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| Sammy Sosa was back in the lineup Thursday and hit his fifth homer of the spring. Sosa, who missed time earlier in the week with a stomach virus, is hitting .404 (19-for-47) this month. |
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| The Rangers have added Sammy Sosa to the 40-man roster, which virtually assures Sosa of an opening day roster spot, according to the AP. He was inked to a minor-league deal in January. Sosa celebrated by crushing a mammoth home run, his third of the spring (he's hitting .452). "I still have a ways to go," said Sosa. "Because I made the team doesn't mean I've got to slow down. No way." |
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| Sammy Sosa was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored Tuesday. He has pushed his spring average to .464, to go along with two homers and six RBI. Sosa is competing for playing time at DH. |
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| Sammy Sosa had two hits Wednesday, including his second home run of the spring. He's now 5-for-12 on the young exhibition season. |
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| Sammy Sosa went 1-for-3 with his first home run of the spring on Sunday against the Royals, according to the AP. "It was good to get the first one out of the way," Sosa said. "That was huge for me. Everyone wanted me to do that." He played in the field for the first time Sunday, starting in right field. |
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| Serving as the DH, Sammy Sosa made his spring debut for the Rangers in a "B" game on Friday and went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts. Sosa will be the DH against the Royals on Saturday, and he's scheduled to play the outfield for the first time on Sunday. |
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| The Rangers plan to announce their minor league with Sammy Sosa today, according to the AP. "If we give him an opportunity to come into camp and he performs like a winner, I don't think (anybody) can complain about that, and I'm certainly not," Rangers rookie manager Ron Washington said after watching Sosa's workout in Texas. "If it works, we look good, and I'm willing to take the chance on that it will work." Sosa will make a base salary of $500,000 if he is placed on the 40-man roster. |
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| Rangers manager Ron Washington and hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo said that Sammy Sosa will have to earn a roster spot in spring training, according to the Dallas Morning News. He signed a minor league deal this week. However, Washington said he liked what he saw from Sosa in the batting cage Monday and added that if Sosa is close to regaining his old form, he could bat as high as fifth. "If he shows he can still hit, that's not a pretty sight for a pitching staff," said Washington. "The way he plays in spring training will tell us if he can handle it." |
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| MLB.com reports that Sammy Sosa has agreed to a minor league contract with the Rangers, at least in principle. Final details still need to be worked out, and an announcement could come in a few days. Sosa would compete with Nelson Cruz for the right field job. |
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| The Rangers have offered Sammy Sosa a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, according to Sports Network. Sosa did not play last year, and he hit just .221 with 14 homers and 45 RBI in 2005 for Baltimore. |
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| Sammy Sosa worked out for the Texas Rangers Monday, according to the AP. Sosa has expressed a desire to return to baseball this year after sitting out the 2006 season. |
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| Sammy Sosa revealed on Wednesday that he never actually retired and would be willing to return to the field if the right offer came along, according to ESPN.com. "I'm not retired. I'm young and happy," he said. "I wanted a break, but I'm getting ready to come back for the right offer." In Februrary, Sosa rejected a non-guaranteed contract from the Nationals. Considering how unproductive Sosa was with the Orioles in 2004 (.221-14-45 in 102 games), it's unlikely that he will draw much interest. |
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