So Much For That Idea

Nomar Is A Dodger
Can't blame him really. He rejoins his old team mates Derek Lowe, Bill Mueller and manager Grady Little from the 2003 Bosox. So much for that really cool 'supersub' idea. It also makes Torre's calls 1 for 4 this year.

The Yankees had wanted to sign Garciaparra, floating the idea of a $3 million deal, plus incentives. They would probably have increased that offer, but talks never intensified and the Yankees came to believe that Garciaparra would choose the Dodgers, the team he rooted for as a child growing up in Southern California.

Garciaparra has a home near Los Angeles with his wife, Mia Hamm, and he apparently did not relish the idea of returning to the East Coast, where the news media's scrutiny sometimes bothered him in Boston.

Now that Garciaparra is off the market, the Yankees may sign Miguel Cairo to be a backup infielder. Cairo, a free agent who played well for the Yankees in 2004, said last week that the Yankees were his first choice.

The Yankees also hope soon to complete a one-year contract for about $2 million, plus incentives, with center-fielder Bernie Williams, who wants to return to the Yankees in a lesser role.

Garciaparra played in 81 games in 2004, and just 62 games for the Chicago Cubs last season, when he missed three months because of a torn left groin. The successive injury-marred seasons reduced his marketability, and Garciaparra sought a short-term deal in the hopes of reestablishing himself as an elite hitter.

Well, my sourgrape-o-scope tell me he's still a big injury risk to play as a starter these days. :)