Odds And Ends: Crisp, Spiezio, Lahey, Longoria

Here are a few notes from the MLBiverse...

• Terry Francona sounds like a manager that is frustrated and wishes the Red Sox would go ahead and trade Coco Crisp. After starting Crisp for the second straight game, Francona said "The more [Jacoby Ellsbury] plays, the better he's going to be, and I clearly feel that responsibility...I'm trying to balance [playing time] the best I can."
• It only took a couple of weeks, but Scott Spiezio managed to mess up his latest opportunity with the Atlanta Braves. After failing to show to his AAA Richmond game "ready to play", Spiezio was released by the Braves.
• Rule 5 pick Tim Lahey, who was DFA'd by the Phillies, cleared waivers and has been sent back to the Twins for $25K.
• With Evan Longoria now in the majors, the Rays may be forced to trade Jonny Gomes or Eric Hinske (who is off to a hot start) in the next few weeks.

Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here.

Braves Sign Scott Spiezio

According to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves have signed Scott Spiezio to a minor league deal.  Spiezio, 35, hit .269/.354/.386 in 223 ABs for the Cardinals last year.

Spiezio was released by the Cards in February when they learned of his arrest warrant related to a drunk-driving incident in December.  The Cardinals paid him $2.4MM to go away.

Odds and Ends: Spiezio, Pavano, Gross, Jackson

Links, rumors...

• Scott Spiezio is in trouble with the law, and the Cardinals decided to release him for it.  Joe Ostermeier notes that the Cards now have about $20MM in dead money on the payroll for '08.
• Evan Grant believes the Rangers would want Jose Ceda or Donald Veal in a deal for Marlon Byrd.
• Call it informed speculation, but Mike Berardino wonders whether Carl Pavano could end up back with the Marlins eventually.
• Ken Rosenthal recently wrote that the Padres were eyeing Gabe Gross.  Tom Haudricourt found out that Kevin Towers never inquired on the Brewers outfielder, but that doesn't mean the Friars weren't eyeing him.
• Ken Davidoff makes a case for why the Astros should sign Roger Clemens.
• Sadly, the Rockies pulled the plug on a deal with Neifi Perez at the last minute.
• We hear "best shape of his life" often in Spring Training, but not with the newly signed Bartolo Colon.  The Red Sox have some history pursuing Colon, as noted by Rob Bradford.
• Conor Jackson switched agents.