JUAN GONZALEZ! invited to ST possibly

[browntown653]

Two-time MVP Juan Gonzalez is seeking another swing at a comeback after nearly three years since his last at-bat, and the Cardinals have discussed extending him an invitation to spring training.

Gonzalez, 38, has been working out at Eduardo Perez's Winter Training Program in Puerto Rico. The Cardinals, intrigued by descriptions of Gonzalez's workouts, are exploring the possibility of signing the former All-Star outfielder, but a source cautioned that no deal is completed.

"He really never stopped playing," said Perez, a former Cardinal and founder of a winter program that offers professional players training facilities in exchange for community work. "He looks great, like he hasn't missed a beat. His legs look strong. Once a hitter, always a hitter."

Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols and coach Jose Oquendo were visiting Perez's program this past week, to work with the players. Early Wednesday morning, Pujols and catcher Yadier Molina took batting practice with Gonzalez, Perez said.

An MVP in 1996 and 1998 with Texas, Gonzalez has 434 career home runs but only one big-league at-bat since May 2004. He tore a hamstring in his only 2005 at-bat and has not played in the majors since.

Recently, his name appeared in the Mitchell Report, which detailed a 2001 incident when steroids were discovered in a bag searched at Toronto's airport. The bag was linked to Gonzalez, though the report says a member of his entourage claimed ownership. In his book "Juiced," Jose Canseco wrote that he introduced Gonzalez to performance-enhancing drugs when they were teammates.

Not surprised by this, it seems comebacks from old, forgotten players are the norm these days...he won't play in another MLB game.

[love_that_reefer]

I am very surprised by this. Juan is not a St. Louis kind of player. Cards need not bring another steroid cloud to this team.

[Saber]

I wonder if he'll ***** about getting that extra RBI in a Cactus League game.