A 17-year old reliever in the Brewers' system was suspended for using a "performance-enhancing substance."

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-drugsuspension&prov=ap&type=lgns

I don't get worked up about steroids and such at all, particularly not for no-name minor leaguers, but the kid is seventeen and messing around that stuff, as a pro no less.  I find that sad.

Anyways, is this the youngest player caught under MLB's testing program so far?

The Red Sox claimed Hee Seop Choi off waivers from the Dodgers.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2382860

Said Dodgers' manager Grady Little, "I think it's a good opportunity for him to go to a ballclub that wants him."  

Ouch!  :)  Though he's absolutely right.

Anyways, I like the move for both the Red Sox and Choi.  Boston's FO appreciates his skills, and he could be in line to do a David Ortiz impersonation soon.  I guess right now he backs up Youkilis at first, but in the likely event of Lowell injury/suckitude, Youk can slide back to third and Choi can man first.  He'd also seem to be a logical candidate for an arrangement like Pena, where he platoons with a veteran this year with an eye on making him a full-time starter in 2007.  Only problem is, I can't think of anyone he'd platoon with off-hand...

One problem I do foresee is that he's yet another guy who can only really play first base or DH.  A problem with having a full-time DH is that it makes it harder to rest the other old guys, and the Sox have at least two candidates in Manny and Varitek, as well as Trot Nixon's fragility to manage.  Choi adds to that log-jam instead of adding someone who could spell them in the field.  On the other hand, depth is good, and I think Choi is talented enough to assume a lineup spot and be productive if one of the older players goes down for an extended period of time.  Juggling the defensive spots could be dicey, though.

One final angle that strikes me upon reading this -- in 2003 the Sox grabbed a relatively anonymous slugger in his prime on the cheap after a deceptively productive season.  That of course was David Ortiz.  He's playing on a relatively modest contract right now, and the Red Sox will almost certainly pick up his club option after this year, but then he'll be a 30 year old DH with old player skills.  Rather than sign him to the monstrous contract he'll likely be seeking, might they have just found his successor?

Here's Baseball America's top 10 Rockies:

1. Ian Stewart, 3b
   
2. Troy Tulowitzki, ss
   
3. Franklin Morales, lhp
   
4. Chaz Roe, rhp
   
5. Ubaldo Jimenez, rhp
   
6. Shane Lindsay, rhp
   
7. Chris Iannetta, c
   
8. Juan Morillo, rhp
   
9. Ryan Shealy, 1b
   
10. Chris Nelson, ss

The big surprise to me is how low Chris Nelson is.  I know he was hurt and didn't play, but it seems unlike BA to drop his tools and age behind a 26 year old first baseman(Shealy) and a guy who throws a straight fastball and little else(Morillo).  I guess if I were making the list I'd move Shealy up to third, slot Nelson between Jimenez and Lindsay, and slide Ching-Lung Lo into the 10 spot ahead of Morillo, but as always there's a reason they get paid to do this sort of thing I suppose.

For those who missed it, Corey Hart of the Brewers(the prospect, not the other one at Nashville, and not the one who wears sunglasses at night either ;) ) was called up to start in Center Field while Brady Clark is out for a few days.  I've never actually seen Hart play before, and am wondering if he has the range to be able to play center regularly.  From what I remember, his defensive problems at third base stemmed mostly from footwork, and he's pretty athletic overall...  maybe he can stick in Center?  It'd certainly help with the outfield problem, having so many guys ready to play the corners, and not many teams can say they've got a center fielder with 40 HR potential.

On another note, if I recall correctly, Hart was drafted as a first baseman out of HS, and then moved to third, then left, and now center.  Have there been any other players to move that far UP the defensive spectrum? (Lance Berkman maybe?)

Just saw that the Mariners released Ryan Anderson.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2029489&num=2

It's just a little sentence on the Mariner's section, perhaps someone else has a link to a more complete article?

At any rate, it's sad to see such a bright future wasted due to injuries.  C'est la vie in pitching-Prospectdom, I suppose.

Just saw the line on ESPN.com...  The O's traded Matt Riley to Texas for Ramon Nivar.  My immediate reaction is that no, they weren't going to get an elite prospect in return for Riley at this point, but to get nothing but a guy whose offensive value is tied 100% to his batting average, which he wasn't able to sustain for an extended period in the PCL...  ACK!!