Zaun Baby Gone?

It was on a Cp24 newsboard earlier this week in Broadview station that I read the startling news. After the Blue Jays exercised the $2.5 million option earlier this week on catcher Rod Barajas, catcher Greg Zaun filed for free agency. After battling early season injuries Zaun lost his starting job to Barajas. 2008 was the 2nd year of Zaun's $7.5 million contract and surely at 38 years old anywhere he'd go to would be in backup capacity. Neither Ricciardi nor Zaun have ruled out Zaun returning. Zaun seems like he'd be looking to catch on with a playoff contender and the Blue Jays chances of winning the AL East grabbing a Wild Card spot are entirely dependant on whether they can retain AJ Burnett and pick up another big bat during the free agency period. Ricciardi just knows he can probably find a better backup option either in the minors,waiver wire, free agent market, the local stick ball game.

Zaun is well liked by Jays fans. Zaun is not overwelmingly gifted as an athlete, his .237 average is well pretty average for a catcher. Zaun's on camera interviews and work as an analyst during the post-season show that he does have a fair bit of charisma so the fans identify with him and I think his hustle and intensity behind the plate will be missed by the fans. What could a blog entry about Greg Zaun be without mention of the steroid accusations and Zaun's explanation for the cheque made out to well known baseball steroid dealer Kirk Radomski with his ridiculous blank cheque paying a teammate explanation, I don't know whether anyone actually does that, I certainly would never but then again I also don't get paid $3 million a year. Zaun's explanation was only slightly more believable than Roger Clemens testimony. At least Zaun was smart enough not to testify before the Mitchell commission I must give him credit for that.

Zaun has been a source of great amusement for Blue Jays fans for the last 5 years and he may have a career as a broadcaster when his on field career is finally over, but who could blame the guy for seeing if he could sign on for a few more seasons somewhere, even if it's for a measly $1 million a season. $1 million to work once maybe twice a week and sit in the bullpen chewing on sunflower seeds is a pretty good job. If this is the last of Greg Zaun good luck, we probably won't miss his bat too much but fans will miss his spirit.