Odds & Ends: Suzuki, Zambrano, Nationals

Links for Tuesday…

• Remember Mac Suzuki?  According to MLB.com’s Dick Kaegel, the Royals’ first Japanese pitcher worked out for Kansas City and Cleveland and will audition for the Dodgers as well.  He’s spent the last three years in the Mexican League.
• Carlos Zambrano’s second-favorite team is the White Sox, according to Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times.  Big Z’s contract with the Cubs runs through 2012 or 2013.
• Nationals acting GM Mike Rizzo told Chico Harlan of the Washington Post he’s received a lot of phone calls about his outfield/first base logjam.
• RotoAuthority runs through all 30 closer situations.  Print it out and bring it to your draft.
• Cole Hamels update: no structural damage to his elbow.  ESPN’s Buster Olney says it’s inflammation.
• Hal McCoy heard from a scout that the Reds might be shopping pitcher Nick Masset, who is out of options.
• Baseball America’s Jim Callis says about 42-44% of first-round draft picks have significant big league careers.
• "Only a physical and minor details" remain on Ivan Rodriguez’s one-year, $1.5MM deal with the Astros, according to Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle.
• Free agent outfielder Luis Gonzalez still hopes to play in 2009. Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic says the D’Backs’ interest only lies in post-retirement employment.
• According to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, the Mets have begun the process of returning Rule 5 pick Rocky Cherry to the Orioles.  UPDATE: Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post says the O’s rejected Cherry and the Mets released him.
• This week’s chat has been moved to Thursday at 2pm CST.