Reyes, now Pujols?

It seems as if the Boss’s ghost has bought the Marlins. After the Bell and Reyes signings, apparently the Marlins are in on Pujols—for a 10-yr. deal. They better hope Pujols actually IS 31.

In the NFL, the Bears are wise. No interest in talking to Favre, no matter what their QB troubles are.

The Twins deal P Kevin Slowey (27) to Colorado for a PTBNL. Slowey had an awful 2011, 0-8, 6.67, ERA+ 60. Career? 39-29, 4.66, ERA+ 90. He’s 20.

Fired managers and ex-players have to love ESPN. Terry Francona replaces Bobby V in the booth for ESPN—after Bobby V replaces Francona as Boston mgr.

Rumor has P Mark Buehrle down to five teams.

The Pirates are interested in signing INF Wilson Betemit (30, KC/Det. 2011, .285-8-46, OPS+ 117, career OPS+ 105, .269 b.a.) to a deal as well as bringing back OF Nate McLouth (30).  McLouth platooned with the Braves, .228-4-16 in 2011, OPS+ 89. McLouth’s best year was in the ‘burgh in 2008, when he was an All-Star, GG, and finished 27th in MVP voting with a .276-26-94 year, 23 steals and a league-leading 46 doubles. Once dealt to Atlanta in 2010, he went south….in more ways than one.

The Cards apparently have P Kyle Lohse on the block…in order to make room for someone else? Lohse did win 14, with a 3.39 ERA, for the 2011 WS Champs.

Mets moves: Trade Angel Pagan (30, .262-7-56, 32 SB, OPS+ 93 in 2011, .279, OPS+ 101 career) to SF for Andres Torres in a trade of CF. Torres hit .221-4-19, 19 SB, 82 for SF in 2011. Alsong with Torres, the Mets get Ramon Ramirez, 30, 3-3, 2.62 in 2011. ERA+ 136. The Mets also signed Jon Rauch. The big righty (6’10”, 33) was 5-4, 4.85 for Toronto in 2011 with 11 saves but an ERA+ of just 88. Career 39-31, 3.82, ERA+ 113.

The Mets also signed Frank Francisco, 32, who along with Rauch was with Toronto in 2011. Francisco was 1-4, 3.55, ERA+ 120 with 17 saves. Career 18-19, 3.72, ERA+ 124.

60’s stars Pagan, Northrup pass away.

Jose Pagan, a SS and 3B (he also had time at 2B, RF, 1B, C, LF) for the Giants, Pirates and Phillies from 1959-1973, passed away on June 7th. He was 76.

Pagan played for the Giants from 1959-1965. He finished 11th in the MVP voting in 1962 when the Giants won the NL pennant. Pagan was the Giants’ SS and hit .259-7-57 with 13 sb that year, OPS+ 81. He hit .368-1-2 in the WS against the Yanks.

In 1965 Pagan was dealt to the Pirates, for whom he played from 1965-1972. The Pirates made the playoffs 1970-1972. In 1970, Pagan played five different positions and hit .265-7-29, OPS+ 102. He was 1 for 3 in the NLCS. He was a member of Pittsburgh’s 1971 WS Champion team, hitting .241-5-15, OPS+ 84 in playing third, left and first. He primarily platooned with Richie Hebner at 3B. Pagan was 0 for 1 in the NLCS and 4 for 15 with 2 RBI in the WS. Pagan didn’t play in the 1972 NLCS for the Buccos. He wrapped up his career by playing five positions for the 1973 Phillies.

Pagan hit .250 in his MLB career, OPS+ 79 in 1326 games. His 162 game average was .250-6-45.

In postseason play he hit .316-1-4.

Jimmy Northrup, OF for the Tigers, Expos and Orioles from 1964-1975, passed away yesterday. He was 71. Northrup played all three OF positions, 1b, and DH. He was a key member of the 1968 Tigers WS Championship team, hitting .264-21-90, OPS+ 129 and finishing 13th in the MVP voting. Northrup hit four grand slams in the 1968 season, including two in one game. He added another in the WS.

In that 1968 WS, Northrup’s HR off Bob Gibson in Game 4 accounted for the Tigers’ only run. He hit a grand slam in Game 6, highlighting Detroit’s 10-run third in that game. His 2-run triple off Gibson in Game 7 was the key blow in the game that brought Detroit the title. In that WS, Northrup hit just .250, but had that triple, those 2 HR and 8 rbi.

He hit 25 HR in 1969 (35th in MVP voting) and 24 in 1970. He was a member of the Tiger’s 1972 team that won the AL East. Northrup hit .261-8-42 that year, OPS+ 102. He went 5 for 14 with 1 rbi in the ALCS.

Northrup didn’t care for Billy Martin much when Martin managed the Tigers.

In 1974, Northrup went from the Tigers to the Expos then to the Orioles. He finished his career with Baltimore in 1975.

Northrup hit .267 with 153 HR in his career, OPS+ 116. His 162 g. average was .267-18-71.  Northrup was .286-2-9 in the postseason.