jjt111
02-05-2008, 04:31 AM
ST. LOUIS -- Juan Gonzalez is trying a comeback with the St. Louis Cardinals (http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/teams/page/STL).
After sitting out the past two seasons, the two-time AL MVP will be one of 26 non-roster players invited to St. Louis' spring training camp this month.
The 38-year-old Gonzalez last played regularly in 2003 when he had 24 home runs and 70 RBI in 324 at-bats for the Texas Rangers. He had one at-bat with Cleveland in 2005 before injuring his hamstring.
Gonzalez has 434 career homers and five 40-homer seasons, the last in 1998.
Cardinals star Albert Pujols (http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/223571) has been working out with Gonzalez, and pushed for the team to give him a shot.
The Cardinals also invited their minor league player of the year, outfielder Colby Rasmus (http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/1184596), as a non-roster player. Rasmus has a chance to make the team, given the trade of Jim Edmonds (http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/7578) and the uncertain status of Juan Encarnacion (http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/8225), struck in the eye by a foul ball last September.
Minor league third baseman David Freese (http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/1225732) of St. Louis, acquired in the Edmonds trade from the Padres, also is a non-roster invitee. In all, 66 players are due to report.
Pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 14 and begin workouts on Feb. 15, with the first full-squad workout on Feb. 19. The Cardinals are beginning their 11th spring training in Jupiter, Fla.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
After sitting out the past two seasons, the two-time AL MVP will be one of 26 non-roster players invited to St. Louis' spring training camp this month.
The 38-year-old Gonzalez last played regularly in 2003 when he had 24 home runs and 70 RBI in 324 at-bats for the Texas Rangers. He had one at-bat with Cleveland in 2005 before injuring his hamstring.
Gonzalez has 434 career homers and five 40-homer seasons, the last in 1998.
Cardinals star Albert Pujols (http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/223571) has been working out with Gonzalez, and pushed for the team to give him a shot.
The Cardinals also invited their minor league player of the year, outfielder Colby Rasmus (http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/1184596), as a non-roster player. Rasmus has a chance to make the team, given the trade of Jim Edmonds (http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/7578) and the uncertain status of Juan Encarnacion (http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/8225), struck in the eye by a foul ball last September.
Minor league third baseman David Freese (http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/1225732) of St. Louis, acquired in the Edmonds trade from the Padres, also is a non-roster invitee. In all, 66 players are due to report.
Pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 14 and begin workouts on Feb. 15, with the first full-squad workout on Feb. 19. The Cardinals are beginning their 11th spring training in Jupiter, Fla.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service