Magglio Ordonez Rumors: Veteran Still Waiting for Call

Spring training games have begun, and veteran Magglio Ordonez remains a free agent.  Still, the former Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox outfielder isn’t letting the current date discourage him.  In speaking with Marcus Grunfeld of Beisbol Venezolano (link in Spanish), Ordonez noted that he continues to hold out hope that he’ll receive a late invite “to some camp”.  So far this offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays and Oakland Athletics are two of the few clubs that have expressed any sort of interest in Ordonez.

Ordonez admitted that he’s still heard nothing from potential suitors.  However, Ordonez added spring training games “have barely begun” and teams could still be “studying their needs”.  These beliefs are allowing Ordonez to hold out hope that a minor league deal and invite to spring training could still be on the horizon.

The A’s interest in Ordonez came before they had inked fellow veteran free agent Manny Ramirez.  Oakland’s desire for over-the-hill sluggers is likely now satiated.

However, just over a week ago Jayson Stark of ESPN reported that the Blue Jays “could have some interest” in one of the right-handed bats remaining on the free agent market.  Stark went on to specifically name Ordonez and Vladimir Guerrero as the players being linked to Toronto.

Ordonez is 38 years old, has a laundry list of injury issues, and only managed an OPS of .634 for the Tigers in 2011.  Still, teams could look beyond his meager 2011 stats and see that the slugger was able to hit at a clip of .303/.378/.474 just two seasons ago in 2010.

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