Other Sports That's got to hurt: Minor leaguer traded for 10 bats

Adept Havelock · 12:05 AM

Wow. This has to be the most insulting trade since Penny Lane was traded to Humble Pie for $50 and a case of Heineken.

It's gotta hurt this guys ego, but he seems to remember the Baseball creed: Don't rub.

Minor leaguer traded for 10 bats

McALLEN, Texas (AP) -- During three years in the low minors, John Odom never really made a name for himself.

That sure changed this week -- he's the guy who was traded for a bunch of bats.

"I don't really care," he said Friday. "It'll make a better story if I make it to the big leagues."

For now, Odom is headed to the Laredo Broncos of the United League. They got him Tuesday from the Calgary Vipers of the Golden Baseball League for a most unlikely price: 10 Prairie Sticks Maple Bats, double-dipped black, 34-inch, C243 style.

"They just wanted some bats, good bats -- maple bats," Broncos general manager Jose Melendez said.

According to the Prairie Sticks Web site, their maple bats retail for $69 each, discounted to $65.50 for purchases of six to 11 bats.

"It will be interesting to see what 10 bats gets us," Melendez said.

The Canadian team signed Odom about a month ago, but couldn't get the 26-year-old righty into the country. It seems Odom had a "minor" but unspecified criminal record that wasn't revealed to immigration officials before they scanned his passport, Vipers president Peter Young said.

Odom said the charge stemmed from a fight he was in at age 17. Although he thought it had been expunged from his record, it popped up during immigration.

Odom spent hundreds of dollars driving to the Canadian border and staying at a Montana hotel while the matter was sorted out. He then drove to Laredo after the trade.

Originally from Atlanta, Odom was drafted late by the San Francisco Giants in 2003. He pitched 38 games, all in Class A, from 2004-06, and was released by the organization this spring.

Laredo intends to activate Odom on Monday and have him make his first start Wednesday.

Odom said he was supposed to be traded for Laredo's best hitter. But when that player balked at moving to Calgary, the bats entered the deal.

Laredo offered cash for Odom, but Young said that was "an insult."

The bat trade wasn't the first time Calgary came up with some creative dealmaking. The Vipers once tried to acquire a pitcher for 1,500 blue seats when they were renovating their stadium, Young said.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...x.html?cnn=yes

FAX · 05-24-2008, 07:01 PM

FAX

LiL stumppy · 05-24-2008, 07:10 PM

oh geez. poor guy

Joie · 05-24-2008, 07:12 PM

Oh my. How embarrassing.

mikey23545 · 05-24-2008, 07:16 PM

Seems to me the reaction should be "What motivation!"

**Skip Towne** · 05-24-2008, 07:20 PM

I wanted to trade William Bartee for two dozen footballs.

**KcMizzou** · 05-24-2008, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

I wanted to trade William Bartee for two dozen footballs.

Geez, Carl.

He was hardly worth three.

chiefs1111 · 05-24-2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

Geez, Carl.

He was hardly worth three.

I am not even sure he was worth that much....

blueballs · 05-25-2008, 01:26 AM

could have been fruit bats

Frazod · 05-25-2008, 01:59 AM

I'M BATMAN!

Sure-Oz · 05-25-2008, 03:44 AM

We should trade Pena for him

Adept Havelock · 05-25-2008, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

I'M BATMAN!

That's probably the man's nickname for the rest of his career.

Frazod · 05-25-2008, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adept Havelock

That's probably the man's nickname for the rest of his career.

Well, it's certainly better than Mr. Irrelevant.

05-24-2008, 06:30 PM
Adept Havelock Obligatory Thoughtcriminal Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Flux,awaiting an observer Casino cash: $10004900	Wow. This has to be the most insulting trade since Penny Lane was traded to Humble Pie for $50 and a case of Heineken. It's gotta hurt this guys ego, but he seems to remember the Baseball creed: Don't rub. Minor leaguer traded for 10 bats McALLEN, Texas (AP) -- During three years in the low minors, John Odom never really made a name for himself. That sure changed this week -- he's the guy who was traded for a bunch of bats. "I don't really care," he said Friday. "It'll make a better story if I make it to the big leagues." For now, Odom is headed to the Laredo Broncos of the United League. They got him Tuesday from the Calgary Vipers of the Golden Baseball League for a most unlikely price: 10 Prairie Sticks Maple Bats, double-dipped black, 34-inch, C243 style. "They just wanted some bats, good bats -- maple bats," Broncos general manager Jose Melendez said. According to the Prairie Sticks Web site, their maple bats retail for $69 each, discounted to $65.50 for purchases of six to 11 bats. "It will be interesting to see what 10 bats gets us," Melendez said. The Canadian team signed Odom about a month ago, but couldn't get the 26-year-old righty into the country. It seems Odom had a "minor" but unspecified criminal record that wasn't revealed to immigration officials before they scanned his passport, Vipers president Peter Young said. Odom said the charge stemmed from a fight he was in at age 17. Although he thought it had been expunged from his record, it popped up during immigration. Odom spent hundreds of dollars driving to the Canadian border and staying at a Montana hotel while the matter was sorted out. He then drove to Laredo after the trade. Originally from Atlanta, Odom was drafted late by the San Francisco Giants in 2003. He pitched 38 games, all in Class A, from 2004-06, and was released by the organization this spring. Laredo intends to activate Odom on Monday and have him make his first start Wednesday. Odom said he was supposed to be traded for Laredo's best hitter. But when that player balked at moving to Calgary, the bats entered the deal. Laredo offered cash for Odom, but Young said that was "an insult." The bat trade wasn't the first time Calgary came up with some creative dealmaking. The Vipers once tried to acquire a pitcher for 1,500 blue seats when they were renovating their stadium, Young said. Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...x.html?cnn=yes Last edited by Adept Havelock; 05-25-2008 at 12:05 AM..
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05-24-2008, 07:01 PM	#2
FAX testing ... 1, 2, 3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tennessee Casino cash: $6753759	FAX
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05-24-2008, 07:10 PM	#3
LiL stumppy 62-21 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Casino cash: $9953684	oh geez. poor guy __________________ I'm just cakn partna
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05-24-2008, 07:12 PM	#4
Joie Veteran Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kansas Casino cash: $10004900	Oh my. How embarrassing.
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05-24-2008, 07:16 PM	#5
mikey23545 MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10015321	Seems to me the reaction should be "What motivation!"
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05-24-2008, 07:20 PM	#6
Skip Towne Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: T-Town Casino cash: $10004900	I wanted to trade William Bartee for two dozen footballs.
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05-25-2008, 01:26 AM	#9
blueballs Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	could have been fruit bats
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05-25-2008, 01:59 AM	#10
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3105085	I'M BATMAN! Attached Thumbnails
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