January 09, 2008
Cairo as a Threat
The Mariners signed Miguel Cairo to a major league contract.
Cairo's signing follows Bavasi's declaration five weeks ago that Lopez must improve in 2008. Lopez struggled with focus last season and was eventually benched after signing a new, $6 million deal.
This is the third consecutive spring training that Lopez, 24, will have a veteran pushing him for his job. In 2006, Seattle signed 36-year-old Fernando Vina. Last spring, Rey Ordonez was in camp after years out of baseball. But those signings were both minor league deals with mere invitations to spring training.
Cairo now has a spot on Seattle's 40-man roster.
"We need improved offense at second base. ... Whether we get someone else or take Jose and make him better, we have to get better there," Bavasi said in late November.
Now that you've stopped laughing, compare Lopez to Cairo. If you are going to push Lopez, why not pick up a player who is actually better than Jose? Is Lopez really scared by a player ten years older who was never that good? Bavasi just wasted money and a roster spot on another unproductive player. Why didn't he sign Marcus Giles instead? At least Marcus could threaten to play the whole season at second.
And Yankee fans across America breath a sigh of relief.
Brian Roberts has been traded to the Cubs for Ronny Cedeno, Sean Marshall and Sean Gallagher.
Somewhere Tony LaRussa is crying in his white wine...