Odds and Ends: Smoltz, Crede, Burnett

A few links for Sunday evening…

• Chicago Tribune reporters Todd Lighty and Oscar Avila have more info on the David Wilder bonus-skimming scandal.
• Terence Moore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution talked to John Smoltz recently about players leaving or choosing not to sign with the Braves.
• SI.com’s Pablo S. Torre digs into Ken Griffey Jr.’s decision.
• Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel learned that Marlins third baseman Dallas McPherson (42 home runs at Triple A last year) would like 500 at-bats, but a bench role is more likely.  McPherson is out of options.
• Joe Crede talked about the White Sox going young, but Ozzie Guillen did not agree.
• Newsday’s Kat O’Brien talked to A.J. Burnett, who was leaning toward the Yankees well before he signed.  He chatted often with Alex Rodriguez and Johnny Damon this winter.
• Speaking of Damon, River Ave. Blues points out a passage in Joe Torre’s book about how the Yankees chose Rondell White over him back in ’02.
• Nationals special assistant Jose Rijo is taking a leave of absence, partially because of the Esmailyn Gonzalez scandal.  ESPN’s Jorge Arangure Jr. has much more on the situation, after talking to Gonzalez/Lugo’s trainer.
• South Side Sox takes a stab at fixing free agent compensation.
• Orlando Hudson could’ve had $24MM for 2009-11 if he’d taken an offer the D’Backs made before the ’08 season.  Nick Piecoro says Hudson’s counteroffer was "so unrealistic that it actually upset people with the Diamondbacks."