The Last Cut is the Hardest

Several MBL Veterans Left on the Outside Looking In

SAN FRANCISCO- The San Francisco Giants released veteran lefthander David Wells yesterday in favor of outfielders Matt Lawton and Brandon Watson. Wells, 32-23 with a 4.52 ERA in 82 starts for the Giants since 2002, however, is hardly the only MBL longtimer soliciting offers across the league over the next couple of weeks as many other notables are sitting by their phones this spring.

"I went to the local Gold's Gym and saw Al [Leiter] hanging by a treadmill," Wells said, surprisingly correctly identifying the piece of workout equipment. Indeed, Leiter, 42-45 with a 5.19 ERA over the same time period for the Toronto Blue Jays, was released earlier this year and is contemplating retirement.

Since the MBL reenacted a salary cap three years ago, the league gradually reduced the overall cap to this season's $23 million, catching many veterans in the snare. Although player movement itself is not unusual, what surprises some onlookers is the higher percentage of veterans with long tenure's on one team that have been released this season. In fact, the cap itself was responsible for Matt Lawton's availability, himself a casualty despite four seasons with the Mets in which he put up a combined .272-.372-.429, 57 HR, 216 RBI.

"The cap is really unfair to the vets," Wells said between tokes on his cigarette. "I mean, not a single team offered anything ... ANYTHING ... to the Giants before I was kicked to the curb. This collective bargaining agreement is unfair."

In addition to Leiter and now Wells, the following veterans with four consecutive seasons in the same clubhouse are sitting on their couches watching the NCAA tournament hoping for a call.

• Brian Anderson, 19-31, 5.56 with the Cardinals.
• Brett Boone, .287-.346-.487, 98 HR, 370 RBI with the Yankees.
• Carl Everett, .270-.332-.444, 39 HR, 155 RBI with the Red Sox.
• Juan Gonzalez, .292-.337-.502, 50 HR, 188 RBI with the Senators.
• Richard Hidalgo, .287-.349-.487, 57 HR, 227 RBI with the Astros.
• Damian Miller, .292-.347-.423, 21 HR, 99 RBI with Chicago-Minnesota, but released by Seattle after the Roger Clemens trade.
• Troy Percival, 2.90, 90 saves, for the Cardinals.
• Sidney Ponson, 22-31, 4.60 in 72 starts for the Diamondbacks.
• Sammy Sosa, .276-.363-.556, 170 HR, 432 RBI with the Indians.
• Woody Williams, 32-49, 5.21 in 110 starts for Cleveland.

With Dmitri Young and Matt Lawton being signed by the Devil Rays and Giants, respectively, is there hope for the others or have they made their last appearance in the Molson Baseball League? Of the above, only Leiter, Gonzalez, and potentially Sosa have an opportunity to be enshrined in the MBL Hall of Fame.