GaryMrMets
06-24-2005, 03:22 PM
Rays Outfielder Alex Sanchez Joins Giants
By JANIE McCAULEY
.c The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Outfielder Alex Sanchez was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants on Thursday from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Sanchez, the first player suspended for failing a test under major league baseball's new steroids policy, was designated for assignment by the Devil Rays on June 13. He is expected to add depth to the Giants' bench and gives the club some much-needed speed, a talented bunter and left-handed bat.
San Francisco manager Felipe Alou said he isn't worried about Sanchez's positive drug test.
``It doesn't concern me, because he wasn't the last,'' Alou said. ``He has plenty of company. The fact that he's clean now puts him in big company, too. ... It's not like he murdered somebody or stole Mona Lisa.''
Sanchez is scheduled to join his new team Friday in Oakland when the club begins a three-game interleague series against the Athletics.
``We saw a guy out there available who can hit and run,'' Alou said. ``He has very good tools. ... We're giving a guy a chance to play baseball who has been good at times.''
Rookie Jason Ellison is still the starting center fielder, but the Giants don't believe he is strong enough to play every day.
Under the new league steroid policy that took began in March, Sanchez was suspended without pay for 10 days, which cost him $27,322 of his $500,000 base salary. The Giants will pay a prorated portion of his salary, which comes to $275,956, and are responsible for deciding on his $1 million option, which carries a $100,000 buyout. San Francisco paid about $20,000 for the waiver fee, general manager Brian Sabean said.
``I think it's a claim that's very low risk,'' Sabean said. ``We know what the pluses are and we know what the minuses are. He has something the team doesn't have other than Ellison, which is speed. ... I'm sure as he's traveled around he's been good enough because of his pluses to be attractive to someone.''
The 28-year-old Sanchez had said he didn't know what he tested positive for and blamed the result on something he bought legally.
Sanchez, who hit .322 with 19 stolen bases in 79 games for Detroit last season, was tested while he was with the Tigers, who released him during spring training. He signed with the Devil Rays on March 19 and was to be the team's center fielder on opening day.
He is batting .346 this season with two home runs, eight doubles and 13 RBIs in 43 games, but lost his starting job because of his struggles in the field and expressed frustration being a backup.
``When you have speed, you might have the tendency to be lackadaisical and think speed can make up for things,'' Sabean said.
Sabean spoke to Sanchez and his agent Thursday and the player said he would be open to reserve role, especially with a fellow Latin American such as Alou managing him.
06/23/05 19:21 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
By JANIE McCAULEY
.c The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Outfielder Alex Sanchez was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants on Thursday from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Sanchez, the first player suspended for failing a test under major league baseball's new steroids policy, was designated for assignment by the Devil Rays on June 13. He is expected to add depth to the Giants' bench and gives the club some much-needed speed, a talented bunter and left-handed bat.
San Francisco manager Felipe Alou said he isn't worried about Sanchez's positive drug test.
``It doesn't concern me, because he wasn't the last,'' Alou said. ``He has plenty of company. The fact that he's clean now puts him in big company, too. ... It's not like he murdered somebody or stole Mona Lisa.''
Sanchez is scheduled to join his new team Friday in Oakland when the club begins a three-game interleague series against the Athletics.
``We saw a guy out there available who can hit and run,'' Alou said. ``He has very good tools. ... We're giving a guy a chance to play baseball who has been good at times.''
Rookie Jason Ellison is still the starting center fielder, but the Giants don't believe he is strong enough to play every day.
Under the new league steroid policy that took began in March, Sanchez was suspended without pay for 10 days, which cost him $27,322 of his $500,000 base salary. The Giants will pay a prorated portion of his salary, which comes to $275,956, and are responsible for deciding on his $1 million option, which carries a $100,000 buyout. San Francisco paid about $20,000 for the waiver fee, general manager Brian Sabean said.
``I think it's a claim that's very low risk,'' Sabean said. ``We know what the pluses are and we know what the minuses are. He has something the team doesn't have other than Ellison, which is speed. ... I'm sure as he's traveled around he's been good enough because of his pluses to be attractive to someone.''
The 28-year-old Sanchez had said he didn't know what he tested positive for and blamed the result on something he bought legally.
Sanchez, who hit .322 with 19 stolen bases in 79 games for Detroit last season, was tested while he was with the Tigers, who released him during spring training. He signed with the Devil Rays on March 19 and was to be the team's center fielder on opening day.
He is batting .346 this season with two home runs, eight doubles and 13 RBIs in 43 games, but lost his starting job because of his struggles in the field and expressed frustration being a backup.
``When you have speed, you might have the tendency to be lackadaisical and think speed can make up for things,'' Sabean said.
Sabean spoke to Sanchez and his agent Thursday and the player said he would be open to reserve role, especially with a fellow Latin American such as Alou managing him.
06/23/05 19:21 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.