Sammy Sosa begins training for return to big leagues

Killswitch · 12-21-2006, 11:24 PM

Quote:

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Sammy Sosa began training Thursday in hopes of returning to the major leagues.

"I feel like I did when I was a rookie," Sosa told The Associated Press. "I have a lot of spirit and a desire to return. I think I can play three or four more years in the form I am now."

Sosa hit the ball out of the park 15 times while training at a field in San Pedro de Macoris that is operated by the Japanese league's Hiroshima Carp.

The 38-year-old slugger said he had received calls from teams interested in signing him but declined to reveal their names.

He has not played since his 2005 season with the Baltimore Orioles, when he hit .221 with 14 home runs and 45 RBI.

Sosa feels baseball has since turned its back on him, calling it a "blow" to not have received offers to come back during this year's season.

The only team that has publicly expressed interest in the Dominican's services was the Washington Nationals, who offered a non-guaranteed $500,000 contract that Sosa rejected.

"I want the chance and I believe one is going to appear. This time I will accept an offer like the one with the Nationals because I want to get back to the majors," he said.

Sosa, who won the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in 1998, played 17 seasons with the Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox and Cubs and finally with Baltimore.

A year away from the game wouldn't shake him, he said.

"Ted Williams went to war and lost a couple years. More recently, Barry Bonds stayed away for more than a year and came back, and the same happened with Frank Thomas because of injuries," he said.

He is washed up. He's better off staying in away from the game. The league was starting to move away from steriod users and now this, ugh.

Thoughts?

The Dynasty · 12-22-2006, 12:49 AM

I don't believe he was a steroid user.

joeytheking23 · 12-22-2006, 12:04 PM

He was not a steroid user.

anyway, he can help out a team, better than Jeff Conine, I will tell you that. If there is a market for Conine, someone will take Sammy

StylesÃ‚â„¢ · 12-22-2006, 12:11 PM

I don't see him coming back for much of this year just because I don't know what type of money he wants, and I'm not sure I'd want to guareentee him so much in the majors for him being out awhile...

joeytheking23 · 12-22-2006, 01:36 PM

Ya, he will probably have to take a small contract with many incentives for performance ala, 20 homers, 100 rbi, etc he gets more....

***400th Post***

StylesÃ‚â„¢ · 12-22-2006, 10:26 PM

Expect him not to go to any high marketed teams and rule out any possibility of going back to the Cubs or Orioles. It's just not going to happen. a 1 yr deal will be made if he goes anywhere and it will be with a low market most likely losing team...

GiantsFan81 · 12-23-2006, 06:37 AM

He has my full support, one of the good dominican players for many years. He always gives 110%.

DANH1 · 12-23-2006, 08:16 AM

He's a hard worker and has the ability to help any team.

StylesÃ‚â„¢ · 12-23-2006, 01:25 PM

I would give him my full support, but when the Nationals offered him a deal to play and he didn't take it because he felt he deserved more and a guareenteed spot in the majors that was a bit selfish IMO, He was good, but at the time he just had came off an terrible terrible year and was injuried during it also....I see him going to a team like...D-Backs, Mariners, Royals, Devil Rays, Nationals, or if they get a bit more risky and have no choice, the Phillies...

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Sammy Sosa begins training for return to big leagues

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