QUOTE
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Rocco Baldelli will begin the season on the disabled list because of a condition that leaves him extremely fatigued after short workouts.
Baldelli will be sidelined indefinitely, but said he is not retiring. He said there hasn't been an exact diagnosis but that doctors have told him he has "some type of metabolic and/or mitochondrial abnormalities."
"When I say 'fatigued,' my body is literally spent after a very short amount of time out on the field, which makes it extremely frustrating and difficult, but it's kind of a reality right now.''
Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said the team likely will not be picking up Baldelli's 2009 contract option by the April 1 deadline, but told reporters the Rays would do what it could to help him out.
If the Rays do indeed decline to pick up Baldelli's $6 million option for 2009, they would owe him $4 million, and Baldelli would become a free agent after the 2008 season, according to MLB.com
Baldelli will be sidelined indefinitely, but said he is not retiring. He said there hasn't been an exact diagnosis but that doctors have told him he has "some type of metabolic and/or mitochondrial abnormalities."
"When I say 'fatigued,' my body is literally spent after a very short amount of time out on the field, which makes it extremely frustrating and difficult, but it's kind of a reality right now.''
Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said the team likely will not be picking up Baldelli's 2009 contract option by the April 1 deadline, but told reporters the Rays would do what it could to help him out.
If the Rays do indeed decline to pick up Baldelli's $6 million option for 2009, they would owe him $4 million, and Baldelli would become a free agent after the 2008 season, according to MLB.com
Weird story, I can't remember another athlete having this problem before. Appartenly he will be a FA after this season though.