There is some news on former Marlins players.

Outfielder Reggie Abercrombie and reliever Clay Hensley were among five players who agreed Monday to minor league contracts with the Houston Astros.

Outfielder John Gall, and infielders Mark Saccomanno and Jason Smith also agreed to deals.

---

The 27-year-old Abercrombie hit .309 with two home runs and five RBIs in 34 games with the Astros last season. He is a career .223 hitter in 180 games with Houston and the Florida Marlins.

---

The 30-year-old Gall hit .312 with 12 home runs and 76 RBIs last season at Triple-A Albuquerque,

If I had to guess, Reggie and John will just be insurance policies in the minors

Then there is Sergio Mitre.

New York Yankees pitcher Sergio Mitre will receive a 50-game suspension Tuesday for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy.

---

"Although being suspended for 50 games is tough to accept, I think that it is important to understand that I am in full support of drug testing in baseball," Mitre said in a statement released through his agent, Paul Cobbe. "I did take the supplement in question and accept full responsibility for taking it. What has been difficult for me to understand is that I legally purchased this supplement at GNC and had no intention nor desire to cheat or to circumvent the system in any way.

 

"As confirmed through the drug testing and grievance processes, it contained a 'contaminant' amount of an illegal, performance-enhancing drug. This was not listed as an ingredient on the packaging, should not have been in the supplement and certainly should not have been available for legal purchase at a store."

I have no problem in believing his story, Sergio has always been a standup guy.   But there are some curious aspects that would make one wonder.   However, I will leave that alone for now.