News from the Hot Stove League:
- Astros sign Jeff Kent: Former San Francisco 2B Jeff Kent signed a two-year, $17.5 million dollar contract yesterday. Craig Biggio, the Astros' 2B since just after the Civil War, will move to center field, and is apparently not unhappy with the switch.
The Houston Chronicle's John Lopez tells us what Kent's signing means for the future of the Astros.
- Sell ball, judge rules: A judge in San Francisco that Barry Bond's 73rd home run ball must be sold, and the proceeds split between Alexander Popov and Patrick Hayashi. In one of the silliest lawsuits of all time, both Popov and Hayashi claimed ownership of the ball, which is rumored to be worth anywhere up to $2 million.
In announcing his decision, [Judge Kevin] McCarthy said the two men had equal legal arguments, and cited the need to reach agreement under "equitable division" laws.
"Their legal claims are of equal quality and they are equally entitled to the ball," McCarthy ruled. "The ball must be sold and divided equally between the parties."
Of course, it remains to be seen whether the proceeds will be split evenly between Popov and Hayashi, and how much their lawyers will receive. Hayashi stated that his legal bills currently are in excess of $100,000. As ever, the real victors will be the lawyers. Sometimes, I think Hamlet had the right idea ("First, we'll kill all the lawyers....").
- Every team's salary average tops $1 million for first time: AND the average salary of a Major League Baseball player is $2.3 million. I am in the wrong damn line of work....
