Eck factor? Guess who’s coming to Arizona
(updated 5:05 p.m.) HOUSTON — The Cardinals jet to the desert after this afternoon’s game for what could amount to one big, festive and unexpected Class of ‘06 Reunion in Arizona.
Lefthander reliever Randy Flores will join the team Monday when rosters expand to their September limit, manager Tony La Russa confirmed Sunday morning. Josh Kinney said Saturday that he will join the team at Chase Field on Tuesday. Chris Carpenter, fresh from his light bullpen session Sunday, is expected to join the bullpen at about the same time.
And if all of those returns weren’t retro enough to give off an October 2006 vibe, there’s this:
Multiple reports out of Toronto’s press corps this morning indicate that this afternoon the Blue Jays were deep into negotiations that would send David Eckstein, the Cardinals shortstop a year ago, to Arizona in time to meet his former team. The deal was completed Sunday after noon after Eckstein had two hits a victory against the New York Yankees. Afterward, Eckstein was informed of the deal that puts him on an unexpected collision course with the Cardinals.
“When you play this game, you play for a world championship,” Eckstein told reporters, according to The National Post. “That’s the only reason why you show up. So now, going into a position where there is an opportunity for that, that’s definitely going to be the goal.”
MLB.com’s Jays beat writer also confirmed the early talks about the deal, writing that Sunday could be Eckstein’s last day with Toronto.
From this MLB.com article:
Talks with the Angels appear to have broken down, but Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi confirmed that he’s still discussing a possible deal with the Diamondbacks. Ricciardi didn’t mention Eckstein specifically, but the infielder is an expendable player who fits a need for Arizona.
Sunday night is the deadline for a traded player to be eligible for the postseason.
Eckstein signed a one-year, $4.5-million deal with Toronto after discussions with the Cardinals fell apart before they truly began. No need to rehash the drama year, but it’s fair to say both sides were bothered by the divorce — especially how it was handled in the days after Eckstein signed with the Blue Jays.
The former World Series MVP — and husband to an animated Jedi and Star Wars star — has been mostly a bench player for the Jays in recent months, making Saturday his first start at shortstop since July 26. With Cito Gaston as manager, according to MLB.com, Eckstein has started just six of Gaston’s 62 games. Eckstein is hitting .272 with a .352 on-base percentage. He has seen playing time at designated hitter and second base, where he could fit for Arizona.
The Angels had reportedly pursued Eckstein a few times this season, flirting with the idea of a reunion with the shortstop. He won a World Series there in 2002 was a fan-favorite before being non-tendered and becoming a Cardinal. Instead, irony is afoot. The potential return to LA has now become a chance to be cross paths again with the Cardinals — only this time as a sudden opponent.
For a three-game series, the Arizona series could be packed.
“David is one of my favorite guys on this team,” Gaston told Toronto reporters. “You’re talking about a guy that’s just absolutely been great here with me and I haven’t been able to play him as much as I’d like to. … Whatever you’ve asked him to do, he will go and do it for you. He’s a class act.”
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Derrick Goold said he was going to Mizzou for capital-J journalism, but after growing up in the Time Zone Baseball Forgot he was really drawn to MU sitting between two major-league cities. Goold joined the Post-Dispatch in 2001 after working for The Times-Picayune and Rocky Mountain News, covering sports from LSU to NHL and every level of baseball in between. 
To Dale, the guy suggesting we should have signed Eckstein and traded for Tejeda:
Signing Eckstein would not have prevented the signing of Kennedy. He was already signed. Remember? He was signed to a multi-year deal after ‘06.
And how can you call 2nd base Eck’s natural position? He has played 2nd base this season more than any season of his career: 6. Compare that to the 57 games he’s played at SS, and 9 he’s logged as a DH. Eckstein has been a SS on every major league team he’s ever played on.
And on Tejeda: He magically turned 34 this season and was the center of some controversy during the offseason. Ed Wade was generally panned for the trade he made at the time.
Kennedy and Izturis haven’t been the problem. Leading the league in blown saves, blowing more saves than any team in history as a matter of fact, has been the Cardinals problem.
Ja - Yes, I remember now that Eckstein played for us in ‘07. Thanks — I must be getting senile in my old age. Eck, however, came up through the Angel’s farm system as a 2nd baseman and made the big club in ‘01 at that position as Kennedy’s backup. He was moved to SS in mid-May of that year when Benji Gil got hurt.
You’re probably right about Tejada. He did have a big price tag. He also magically lost his power after Palmeiro outed him at the ‘05 Senate Hearings.