Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord…
Jordan Bastian, MLB.com:
TORONTO — Sal Fasano’s famous Fu-Manchu may be making a return trip to Rogers Centre. On Friday, the Blue Jays announced they have signed the veteran catcher to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.
It’s the same type of contract that Fasano signed prior to last season with the Jays and it means the club isn’t done searching for a catcher to back up Gregg Zaun. Toronto has interest in free-agent catcher Miguel Olivo, who was non-tendered by the Marlins on Wednesday, and Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said he’s exploring other avenues as well.
“This just gives us a little bit of security,” Ricciardi said on Friday, discussing the Fasano signing. “I still think we’ll continue to try to address that area. I don’t know what we’ll be available. It might be via trade, and there are a few guys still out there who could fit our need via free agency. We’ll see. Right now, at least we have a comfort knowing that we have a guy there.”
Fasano spent most of last season at Triple-A, where he hit .262 with eight home runs and 14 RBIs in 47 games for Syracuse. The 36-year-old veteran did see time with the Blue Jays, posting a .178 average in 16 games. Fasano had season-ending surgery on his left knee in September, but he’s expected to be ready by Spring Training.
The Blue Jays have been hesitant to pursue a multiyear contract for a backup catcher, considering the club has catching prospects Robinzon Diaz and Curtis Thigpen close to being ready for the big leagues. There’s a chance that one of the young catchers could receive a call to the Jays at some point this season.
As of yesterday, the Canadian Press reports, “Defensive specialist Sal Fasano, the popular veteran who calls a great game but offers little with the bat, continues to be the fallback plan as other candidates are considered. The Blue Jays are looking for someone on a one-year deal to not block the path of prospects Robinzon Diaz and Curtis Thigpen.
“We’re trying some other things,” Ricciardi said in an interview Monday. “Sal’s still strong in the mix. I think we’ll have our backup catcher by the end of the week.”"
These little dribs and drabs of information now officially constitute a tease. C’mon J.P., get on this. The people can only wait for so long. This is ridiculous.
Good news, good news. It seems like Sal might just be the most coveted backup catcher in the world (for the Blue Jays). Jordan Bastian (who really seems to have a thing for Sal) wrote this yesterday at MLB.com:
“Ricciardi also said he’s already talked to a couple of teams about trades that could potentially fill Toronto’s need for a backup catcher. The Jays have continued to talk to free-agent catcher Sal Fasano, and the club has some limited interest in Paul Bako.
The Jays are only looking for a one-year solution for the backup catcher job, considering the progression of catching prospects Robinzon Diaz and Curtis Thigpen. Ricciardi said that the Jays are interested in re-signing Fasano and seeing if Diaz is ready to make the jump to the Majors from Triple-A later in 2008.
“We’re talking to Sal right now,” Ricciardi said. “He gives us a little bit more of a catch-and-throw guy behind the plate against teams that run. Hopefully, Diaz is ready around June or July, and we’ll evaluate it at that point.”
Today, at bluejays.com, Jordan Bastian reports,
“Now, Toronto is searching for a No. 2 catcher to slot in behind Gregg Zaun. One of the Jays’ own free agents, Sal Fasano, is one option that the club is considering.”
Folks, I can’t make this stuff up. There’s no way I’m sleeping tonight.
Like you, when I happen across a website such as Maxim.com, “Sal Fasano” is not the first person I expect to see. That said, Maxim.com actually features TWO photos of Sal in their “Baseball’s Men of Mustache” feature.
Cheers to Maxim for putting Sal in there.
Jeers to Maxim for choosing Keith Hernandez’s little ’stache as #1.
Check it out:
http://www.maximonline.com/Sports/Salfasano/slideshow/3273/219.aspx
Will Sal return to Toronto for next season? Who’s to say? Well, Sal filed for free agency on Oct. 30, 2007 and we just saw this hot item from the Canadian Press:
Popular veteran catcher Sal Fasano is likely to be brought back in some capacity, possibly as Gregg Zaun’s backup.
“We’ll explore and we’ll tinker,” said Ricciardi, “but I don’t see us being involved with a lot of crazy stuff.”
Sal, had to leave the team this week. Sals Pals Canada only wishes him the best with all of his personal matters. Hope we can see Sal one last time for the final weekend of the season, and if not, we hope that during the offseason he shaves the beard and maintains the fu.
Whad up, Gibby? Where’s our boy? It’s nothing short of rude to invite Sal up from the minors only to make him sit on the bench or even deeper in the bowels of Fenway and possibly Tampa Bay. The people have spoken. They want their SAL and they want it…NOW! (jim morrison vocce)
September 1st came and went…quietly..then we checked the news wire…and YES!!! HE is back from Syracuse. HE is here to lead his team once more. HE has faced great adversity and come back on top. There were many who doubted HIM, and where are they now? Sure, HE was not elected to some silly, little popularity contest, but this, oh, this call-up is far more important than that. This is the real thing and have no doubt, HE is ready. Are you?
Well, there is a stiff cool breeze in the air and that can only mean that summer is coming to an end, no one will wear white shoes after Labor Day, and 40 man rosters are almost upon us. And that’s good news for Sal. How good? Well, according to John Gibbons, it’s very good. “You’ve got to have a third catcher,” said Gibbons, sitting in Toronto’s dugout prior to Tuesday’s game against the A’s. “What if one of the guys gets hurt? What’re you going to do, bring in somebody who’s been sitting at home for three weeks?” In other words, the Jays want a third string catcher. And more importantly, they need a special kind of moustache. Sal is currently hobbling around Syracuse on crutches, but you can bet your bottom dollar that he’ll be ready for the call. Man, are we excited!! Yahooooo!!
