Just sayin: Scott Rolen - MLB

Last weekend in this space, I had a pretty hard time advocating the Reds going after 34-year-old oft-injured third baseman Scott Rolen. Could you blame me?

Games played:

2005- 56
2006 – 142
2007- 112
2008 – 115

That’s an average of 106 games played.

To his credit, Rolen has put together a nice comeback season, hitting
.314/.366/.468 with eight homers and 43 RBI. It was enough for Walt
Jocketty, his former general manager in St. Louis, to bring him to
Cincinnati in exchange for third baseman Edwin Encarnacion along with
prospects Josh Roenicke and Zach Stewart.

The fact that Rolen is already out of action on Monday after getting
hit by a pitch on Sunday is purely coincidental to my original point.
Worse yet, Walt Jocketty sold low on Encarnacion, a 26-year-old slugger
who is batting .205/.324/.361 with five homers an 16 RBI in an injury
plagued season. Teams like Cincinnati, by all accounts out of the race,
should be buying low on talents like Encarnacion, not buying high on
deteriorating players like Rolen.

Just sayin, Cincinnati.

LOS ANGELES — Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, and Tommy Kahnle were activated by the New York Yankees ahead of their weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

New York cleared three roster spots after a 1-0 loss at Seattle, optioning infielder-outfielders Oswaldo Cabrera and Franchy Cordero to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre along with left-hander Matt Krook.

Stanton, Donaldson and Kahnle all played in a rehab game for Double-A Somerset. Stanton was hitless in three at-bats in his first appearance since injuring his left hamstring on April 15.

Donaldson went 1 for 4 in his fourth rehab game as he comes back from a strained right hamstring originally sustained on April 5.

Kahnle pitched one inning, giving up one run and one hit and walking two. He has been out since spring training with right biceps tendinitis.

Aaron Boone said he wasn’t concerned about Stanton returning after playing in just one rehab game. He did say that Stanton likely will be a designated hitter for a couple of weeks after rejoining the Yankees.

New York is missing centerfielder Harrison Bader, who strained his right hamstring against the Mariners and went on the injured list the next day.

Left-hander Carlos Rodón, sidelined since spring training by a sore left forearm and an ailing back, was transferred to the 60-day injured list.