Rolen may not be ready for Opening Day

New Blue Jays' 3rd baseman Scott Rolen may not be on the field when the Blue Jays open the 2008 season.

During a fielding drill on the back fields on Sunday, Scott Rolen suffered a broken finger when the ball hit him on the fingernail, ripping it completely off and breaking the top knuckle on his right middle finger.

GM J.P. Ricciardi, “It’s a non-displaced fracture, which is the good news. I’m not a doctor, but the early prognosis is it isn’t going to be six weeks, so I don’t even want to throw a schedule out there. Our best-case scenario is that it’s quick and our worst-case is it isn’t as long as most things we have had to deal with. My instinct is I am preparing for the worst-case scenario but I can say this, he won’t be lost for the year.”

Rolen, Glaus swap complete

1.14.08 10:14pm PST

According to ESPN News Services, the trade between the Cardinals and Toronto was completed on Monday.

Jerry Crasnick reports that sources close to the deal said it was contingent on Troy Glaus picking up his $11.5M option for 2009. Otherwise, the Cardinals would not have pulled the trigger on the deal.

1.12.08 3:00pm

Jerry Crasnick weighs in. The deal has been agreed upon but hangs on both players completing their physicals.

Usually that means it's a done deal, but with both players coming off surgery, the deal is a long way from done.

1.12.08 10:49am PST

According to Ken Rosenthal, the St. Louis Cardinals are close to a deal that would send 3rd baseman Scott Rolen to Toronto for Troy Glaus.

Rolen, Glaus trade nearing completion

1.12.08 3:00pm

Jerry Crasnick weighs in. The deal has been agreed upon but hangs on both players completing their physicals.

Usually that means it's a done deal, but with both players coming off surgery, the deal is a long way from done.

1.12.08 10:49am PST

According to Ken Rosenthal, the St. Louis Cardinals are close to a deal that would send 3rd baseman Scott Rolen to Toronto for Troy Glaus.

Cardinals trade Rolen to Jays for Glaus?

According to Ken Rosenthal, the St. Louis Cardinals are close to a deal that would send 3rd baseman Scott Rolen to Toronto for Troy Glaus.

LaRussa has choice comments for Scott Rolen

If the Cardinals thought they didn't have to trade 3rd baseman Scott Rolen, maybe they should re-think that idea. Cardinals' manager Tony LaRussa, when asked about the Rolen situation, had some pretty pointed comments.

"The idea is to accommodate the St. Louis Cardinals, our team, our responsibility to our players and to the competition. So, no, I don't want to accomodate Scott.

Memo to the Cardinals - trade Rolen before this gets worse.

Cardinals talking to Dodgers, Giants about Rolen

Talks between the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers have cooled because the Cardinals are a little wary of trading Rolen within their own division.

In the meantime, the Cardinals have begun talks with the Giants and Dodgers about Rolen and could complete a deal with either team before the end of the Winter Meetings on Thursday.

Rolen to Brewers?

Jim Molony of MLB.com writes that Brewers GM Doug Melvin and assistant GM Gord Ash met with Cardinals GM John Moseliak about acquiring Cardinals' 3rd baseman Scott Rolen. A move that would allow the Brewers to move NL Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun to left field.

What could keep this trade from happening is the fact that Rolen is due $36M over the next 3 years and the Cardinals are reluctant to send cash to the Brewers to cover Rolen's contract. Rolen has also been bothered by a left shoulder injury that he suffered back in 2005.