oriolesfan23
02-02-2005, 04:27 PM
It's this evening at 6:00! You can listen to it at www.orioles.com. I'm going to be watching it on Comcast Sportsnet!
Orioles plan to introduce Sosa
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- The Orioles made plans Wednesday to introduce Sammy Sosa as their new right fielder in a press conference at Camden Yards to be held at approximately 6 p.m. ET.
The club issued a press release stating its plans, adding that they were contingent upon Sosa passing a physical examination Wednesday afternoon.
Sosa arrived in Baltimore late Tuesday night. The Players Association approved changes to Sosa's contract on Monday night, leaving MLB approval and Sosa's physical as the final two hurdles to the completion of Sosa's trade from the Chicago Cubs.
The deal was tentatively approved Wednesday by the Commissioner's office, but it has not received the last draft of necessary paperwork.
Jerry Hairston, the central player in the deal going to the Cubs, passed his physical on Monday afternoon.
Orioles officials still have not commented publicly on the trade, but that likely will change Wednesday when Sosa should be holding up his Orioles jersey -- No. 21 is available -- and begin his era in Baltimore.
If the complicated deal goes through, Sosa will be obligated to the Orioles for the 2005 season. He has agreed to waive his no-trade clause and another clause that guaranteed his contract for $18 million in 2006 if he was traded.
Sosa will earn $25 million in 2005 -- $17 million base salary plus a $4.5 million buyout for 2006 and $3.5 million in severance pay 30 days after the trade is completed. The Cubs will pay for $15.5 million, while the Orioles will pay Sosa $9 million next season.
According to agent Adam Katz, both sides have decided to table a potential contract extension, but are open to the idea.
"As far as an extension, that's something that will be tabled for the time being," Katz said Monday night. "It seems like both parties seem to have an inclination for a long-term relationship. He's anxious to get all of this behind him with his new club."
Sosa will become the team's starting right fielder, with Jay Gibbons moving to first base and Rafael Palmeiro to full-time designated hitter. The minute the contract becomes official, Sosa and Palmeiro will make baseball history as the first teammates with at least 500 home runs each.
There have been teammates with 500 home runs, such as Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews, and Willie Mays and Willie McCovey, but they did not all have 500 homers while teammates.
Sosa has 574 home runs and is almost certain to become the fifth player to hit at least 600 with a healthy season.
"As much as we have been struggling against lefties, we can definitely use his bat," Gibbons said. "He just makes our offense that much better. We will welcome him here and are ready to go. I'm excited."
Sosa is a career .294 hitter against left-handers with a .559 slugging percentage.
Orioles plan to introduce Sosa
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- The Orioles made plans Wednesday to introduce Sammy Sosa as their new right fielder in a press conference at Camden Yards to be held at approximately 6 p.m. ET.
The club issued a press release stating its plans, adding that they were contingent upon Sosa passing a physical examination Wednesday afternoon.
Sosa arrived in Baltimore late Tuesday night. The Players Association approved changes to Sosa's contract on Monday night, leaving MLB approval and Sosa's physical as the final two hurdles to the completion of Sosa's trade from the Chicago Cubs.
The deal was tentatively approved Wednesday by the Commissioner's office, but it has not received the last draft of necessary paperwork.
Jerry Hairston, the central player in the deal going to the Cubs, passed his physical on Monday afternoon.
Orioles officials still have not commented publicly on the trade, but that likely will change Wednesday when Sosa should be holding up his Orioles jersey -- No. 21 is available -- and begin his era in Baltimore.
If the complicated deal goes through, Sosa will be obligated to the Orioles for the 2005 season. He has agreed to waive his no-trade clause and another clause that guaranteed his contract for $18 million in 2006 if he was traded.
Sosa will earn $25 million in 2005 -- $17 million base salary plus a $4.5 million buyout for 2006 and $3.5 million in severance pay 30 days after the trade is completed. The Cubs will pay for $15.5 million, while the Orioles will pay Sosa $9 million next season.
According to agent Adam Katz, both sides have decided to table a potential contract extension, but are open to the idea.
"As far as an extension, that's something that will be tabled for the time being," Katz said Monday night. "It seems like both parties seem to have an inclination for a long-term relationship. He's anxious to get all of this behind him with his new club."
Sosa will become the team's starting right fielder, with Jay Gibbons moving to first base and Rafael Palmeiro to full-time designated hitter. The minute the contract becomes official, Sosa and Palmeiro will make baseball history as the first teammates with at least 500 home runs each.
There have been teammates with 500 home runs, such as Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews, and Willie Mays and Willie McCovey, but they did not all have 500 homers while teammates.
Sosa has 574 home runs and is almost certain to become the fifth player to hit at least 600 with a healthy season.
"As much as we have been struggling against lefties, we can definitely use his bat," Gibbons said. "He just makes our offense that much better. We will welcome him here and are ready to go. I'm excited."
Sosa is a career .294 hitter against left-handers with a .559 slugging percentage.