"Major League Baseball is a better place with Jose Canseco"
-Jim Rome

Hey everyone,

Jose hasn't played in a spring training game for four or five days now, and
until today, I didn't know why. I assumed it was soreness or a minor
injury, but I wasn't sure. I figured if he was completely healthy, he'd be
playing, and if he had a major injury, we would have read about it by
now. Sure enough, it turns out it he "rolled his ankle," and they don't
want him running on it just yet. He hopes to be back in the lineup this
weekend.

All the latest news is below...

-Mark

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From the Denver Post:

EXPOS GOING OUT WITH A BASH: Indeed, if this is the Expos' last year before
contraction, they'll be going out with a Bash Brother on their roster. In
the first major move by new GM Omar Minaya, the now MLB-run Expos signed
Jose Canseco to a minor-league deal. The Angels signed him to a similar
deal last winter and gave up on him early in the spring. Don't expect the
Expos to do the same after seeing what the big slugger did with the White
Sox last year. Besides, maybe Canseco's name will put a few extra fans in
the seats at consistently empty Olympic Stadium. He'll likely platoon in
left field in his first stint in the NL.

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From the Palm Beach Post:

Aging Expos: General Manager Omar Minaya said he tried to bring Tim Raines
back to Montreal and would have platooned him with Jose Canseco, who is in
camp but didn't play Friday.

Raines signed with the Marlins, but Minaya said he was disappointed when
the Expos didn't sign him.

"I envisioned Tim Raines and Jose Canseco in left field in a platoon
situation," Minaya said. "We offered him the job. I thought he was coming
here. I was stunned when he took the Florida job. I thought it would have
been great to have him here as a veteran guy and it would have allowed him
to finish his career here in Montreal."

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From the Sporting News:

...Jose Canseco has held up well so far, getting four at-bats as designated
hitter in the Grapefruit League opener Thursday against the Orioles (going
0-for-3 with a walk), and suffering nothing more serious than sore ankles
from baserunning on an uneven practice field during pitchers' fielding
drills. . . .

...And there seem to be alternatives around with Brad Wilkerson, who won't
have a completely healthy shoulder for another few weeks, but could be
shoved out of the left-field role by a healthy Canseco.

There is also Lance Johnson, Canseco's personal choice for a leadoff
hitter, who must show he has something left at age 38.

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From MLB.com:

"Jose Canseco, meanwhile, who's been out since March 2 with a strain of his
right heel, took batting practice again Wednesday and will be evaluated as
to whether he can move around in the field Thursday or Friday. A start
would appear unlikely for Canseco before the weekend"

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From the Montreal Gazette:

- Canseco Improving: Left-field candidate Jose Canseco, who has been on the
shelf the last few days after rolling his ankle slightly during pitcher's
fielding drills, was much improved yesterday.

"I hit and threw today," he said. "The only thing they didn't want me to do
is run. We'll give it one more day, see if it feels good."

Canseco isn't scheduled to go up to Port St. Lucie for tonight's game
against the New York Mets.

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From USA Today:
A DH in any language

The Expos might give Jose Canseco the opportunity to make regular
appearances in the field. Since having Tommy John surgery in 1993, Canseco
has played 148 games in the outfield, fielding .951. No starting outfielder
fielded below .953 last season.