Perhaps my earlier claim that Edgardo Alfonzo had played his last big league game was premature. From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Mike Rainey.
The Blue Jays assigned starting shortstop Russ Adams to Triple-A Syracuse yesterday primarily because he™s made nine throwing errors already this season. The Toronto Globe and Mail reports that second baseman Aaron Hill is likely to be shifted back to shortstop, his natural position, and the Blue Jays are discussing a trade that would send Shea Hillebrand (above) to the Angels for Adam Kennedy.
The holdup on the deal there is a $2.45-million (U.S.) difference in the 2006 base salaries between Kennedy ($3.35-million) and Hillenbrand ($5.8-million). The Angels want cash or another player to make the deal work, and the Globe and Mail reports that the Blue Jays™ signing of Edgardo Alfonzo to a minor league contract yesterday could be their way of telling the Angels that they are prepared to move on very soon if a deal for Kennedy isn™t completed by the weekend.
Alfonzo, who was cut by the Angels last Saturday after going 5-for-50 to start the season, will report to Double-A New Hampshire.
œWe™ll give him seven to 10 days down there, let him get about 50 at bats in, and go from there, Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi said. œI spoke to Edgardo (on Wednesday) and the guy just wants a chance to play somewhere. So it™s a shot for us. If he gets his swing back, he could be a productive guy and we know that he can play the position.