Rays & Hank Blalock Close To Deal

[HacheMan]

<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top rowSpan=5 width=100 align=middle> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Report: Blalock, Rays closing in on agreement </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Hank Blalock - 1B - TEX - Mar. 8 </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>SI.com's Jon Heyman reports that the Rays and free agent first baseman Hank Blalock are working out the final details of a complicated deal.
The contract would enable Blalock to opt out if he's not in the major leagues. The 29-year-old batted a measly .234/.277/.459 last season, yet still managed to tally 25 home runs in 462 at-bats. He'd function as a left-handed compliment to Pat Burrell at designated hitter and could also spell Carlos Pena at first base if his surgically-repaired fingers become a problem.
Source: SI.com
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[lakersyankees]

decent pickup, obviously some telent still there

 

[barman]

Hopefully, Burrell will be on a very short leash this spring and if he fails to deliver solid numbers in April, they'll swallow the $8m and dump him or swap him elsewhere for a couple of real young minor league prospects