It’s almost an obsessive watch, but we’re not quite there yet.
Among the candidates for the Chicago Cubs’ fourth outfielder job is former Tampa Bay Ray prospect Rocco Baldelli according to the St. Petersburg Times. Baldelli, 28, was a breakout star as a young man in Tampa (though he was somewhat overhyped because of his young age), but has battled a myriad of injuries since turning 24, not the least of which was an elbow problem that resulted in Tommy John surgery.
He was an adequate reserve outfielder last year for the Boston Red Sox, putting up a .253/.311/.433 line. He can truly play all over the outfield, and still has a lingering bit of upside. That probably makes him something of a fall-back for the Cubs, together with Xavier Nady, from their current primary target, Jermaine Dye. Other rumored names have included Ryan Spilborghs and recently-departed Cub, Reed Johnson.