MLB BOOTLEG: Why isn't Jose Canseco employed?

Which way Jose?
(Chicago Sun-Times) A couple of questions ... If we as Americans can't stick a couch in the yard, then have the terrorists already won? And more to the point, why isn't Jose Canseco gainfully employed? Canseco still has power, still shows great patience at the plate, and at the very least should be slaughtering left-handers for some AL team.Since his last unproductive year in 1997 (though his 1998 season is a bit overrated), Jose's been as consistently good as his haircut. Last year, toiling for the White Sox, Jose posted a .366 on-base percentage and a .477 slugging percentage. A lot of teams could use that right now. And a return to the South Side isn't out of the question.

The Chi S-T reports that Hose GM Ken Williams may offer Jose a spot in the minors, something Canseco found unpalatable while auditioning for Montreal this spring. "He's keeping his options open," Williams said. "He has a standing invitation to join one of our minor-league teams. We owe him that after what he gave us last year. He didn't come in with an ego, carried himself well and performed well. If he called today, he'd have a home."

While that's all well and good, Jose deserves a spot on a major-league roster. A league source tells Bootleg that the Mariners, pursuant to the Edgar Martinez injury, have shown some interest, but nothing appears to be shakin'.

But there are plenty of other teams out there who could use his his pop and patience. Two of SoCal's outfits, the Dodgers and Angels, are about as offensive as puppies. The Halos could no doubt use Canseco as a platoon partner for DH Brad Fullmer. But you'll recall that Canseco's release by the Angels last spring was notable for its acrimony. So that isn't likely.

The Dodgers? Wait, you can't play this guy in the outfield can you? He's a liability, no question. But with a staff that's going to strikeout a lot of batters, which the Dodgers have, you can get with some ham-fisted glovework from the more harmless positions on the diamond. Why not move Brian Jordan to center and plug Jose in left? The Dodgers needs runs like Kid Rock needs a hepatitis test, and anything that keeps Thunder Grissom and Dave Roberts on the bench is a start.

And the Cards ... Left field isn't a problem for them since the exceptional Albert Pujols is there most of the time, but St. Louis could certainly deploy its resources better with Jose on board. Put Jose in left, move Pujols back to third (and leave him there) and use Placido Polanco in his most valuable role, that of utility player/pinch-hitter. St. Louis needs another right-handed power source in its lineup, and Jose is nothing if not that, and on the cheap too. Not this cheap, but cheap nonetheless. Not this cheap either, for that matter.

Distillery
Jermaine Dye has the green light to begin his rehab detail and should be in the Oakland lineup by the end of the week ... The 'Stros will call up Tim Redding in time to start against the Giants on Saturday ... Woody Williams probably won't return to the StL rotation until mid-May ... Chan Ho Park may be a bit ahead of schedule in his rehab and could be back before his projected return in mid-May ... M's first baseman/DH Ron Wright could be jettisoned back to Tacoma in favor of an additional reliever ... Hose phenom Jon Rauch makes his major-league debut tonight against the Injuns ... The Rays have placed Wilson Alvarez, who I constantly forget is still around, on the 15-day DL with a strained rib cage muscle ... ChiSox prospect Joe Borchard will report to AAA-Charlotte on the 22nd to begin rehabbing his broken foot ... Everyone knows that Andy Benes has nothing anymore. When will Tony La Russa get clued in? ... KayCee hurler Darrell May is on the DL with a bum groin ... D-Rays sort-of-prospect Bobby Seay won't see action at least until June ... John Halama will have his next start pushed back a day or two ... Delvin James makes his ML debut tonight when he takes the bump against the Tigers ... Hideki Irabu, who was once scratched from a rehab start because he was too drunk to take the mound, will be moved to the Tejas bullpen until they need a fifth starter again ... Rays right-hander Paul Wilson has some stiffness in his shoulder and won't make his scheduled start tonight. Nothing serious yet ... The Cards have sent Gene Stechschulte down to AAA and called up Travis Smith in his stead ... Yup. Wade Miller goes on the DL with a pinched nerve in his neck ... Garrett Stephenson is scheduled to make his next start on Friday.