Former Dodgers, On The Move

Here's a gaggle of stories about former Dodgers.

• Battletoad Vicente Padilla has an invitation to come to spring training with the Red Sox to compete for a starting role. Better hope the equipment guys bought some extra towels this offseason!

  BOSTON -- Newly signed Vicente Padilla will come to camp as a starter and be "in the mix" for the back end of the Red Sox rotation, general manager Ben Cherington said in a conference call with reporters Tuesday.

  He also acknowledged that Padilla could wind up in the bullpen.

  Padilla was briefly used as a closer by his last big-league team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, recording three saves before requiring neck surgery.

• Hee-Seop Choi may not be a hero after all; that is, not if the Kia Tigers can't deal him. Here's the skinny (no link, but this article is from the Korea Times):

  Trade talks involving former Major League Baseball first baseman Choi Hee-seop have broken down, Choi's South Korean club said Monday, as it mulled an outright release.

  The Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said they have called off trade discussions with the Nexen Heroes. The Gwangju-based Tigers had been seeking to deal Choi, who missed the start of their team practice earlier this month citing personal reasons.

  The Tigers said the Heroes, based in Seoul, had the most interest in acquiring Choi. Though neither team disclosed which Nexen players were on the trading block, sources have said a left-handed reliever and a right-handed infielder would have been traded for Choi.

  Kia officials have said Choi was suffering from flu when he didn't show up for the team workshop on Jan. 6 and the start of the offseason training camp two days later. Sources said Choi had put on extra pounds in the offseason and was in no shape to play baseball.

• And finally, though he's not a former Dodger: Tim Lincecum has asked for a 65% increase in pay next year, from $13.1M to $21.5M. Says the ESPN article, "The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner's request neared the record amount sought in arbitration. Houston pitcher Roger Clemens asked for $22 million in 2005."

  Not bad for a 13-14 pitcher! Stick it to 'em, Timmah! (And wash your hair.)

Vin Scully Remembers Hee! Seop! Choi!

Vin Scully, from Saturday's telecast:

On this day in 2005, the Dodgers were playing Minnesota. Hee-Seop Choi, remember? Hit three home runs that day. On a quiet night in the winter, you might still hear the chant. Hee! Seop! Choi!

He hit six home runs in three games, one burst of brilliance, then disappeared from the scene. Where is he? He's back in South Korea, and he's playing for the Kia Tigers. Yep, he's still at it, and I'm sure over there, they're chanting Hee! Seop! Choi!

Let's go back to this one.

AP photo

The Hot Opening Day Ticket

If you find yourself in Tampa, and Jai Alai's not your bag, reach into your coin purse and bust out an Abe Lincoln for 4 Premium Tampa Bay Devil Rays tickets. Boasting a league worse 1-12 Spring Training Record, the D Rays are poised for another breakout season. Your kids will love frolicking with T Bay's economical mascot RAYMOND (who as you can see, is a much nicer sting ray than one who stabbed Steve Irwin in the heart). Their $35 Million Payroll (which dwarves the Marlins $3.25 per inning rates) ensures that former Dodgers Jae Seo, Hee-Seop Choi and Dioner Navarro will actually be paid fairly for their "services". So come to Tropicana Stadium on opening day, the one game all year when the Devil Rays are fighting for 1st place.