Bowden just can't resist Sosa
UPDATE, Feb 9, 2006: The news I'm reading today is saying that Bowden's contract offer to Sosa is NOT guaranteed. The difference between this and previous offers to Sosa is that this is a major league contract, as opposed to a minor league deal. Still no word from Sosa's camp.
Despite saying recently that they would not offer Sammy Sosa a guaranteed contract for 2006, Nationals general manager Jim Bowden said Tuesday the team has offered Sosa a guaranteed major league contract and is waiting to see if the seven-time All-Star accepts it. The deal is believed to be for one year and laden with incentives.
We all know what Sosa has achieved in his career, so was last year's miserable showing a fluke or a sign of his declining abilities?
As he makes a run for his 600th homer, I have no doubt that his presence on the team will sell tickets, and that's a good thing for Washington. On the downside, MLB Trade Rumors points out that Sammy was outhit by several pitchers last year, including former Nat Hector Carrasco! Aside from the paltry stats projections from RotoAuthority (.245-19-60-51), PECOTA (.242-21-76-53) and ZiPS (.227-23-74-39), my concern is about his attitude. I recently read that Sosa was "a cancer in the Orioles dugout" in 2005. Ouch!
I'm hoping for the best, but I can't imagine that Frank Robinson is impressed with this move.
