This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Surprise, Ariz. • Josh Lindblom has had a unique experience while playing only one full season in the major leagues: He has already been traded twice for All-Star players.
The big reliever is now with Texas after being dealt during baseball's winter meetings from Philadelphia with another pitcher for longest-tenured Rangers player Michael Young. That came less than six months after Lindblom had gone from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Phillies in a four-player deal for Shane Victorino.
"I don't think you ever get used to having to pick up and move cities and teammates," Lindblom said. "It's kind of like the first day of school all over again."
More unique for Lindblom is that both times he changed teams, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound right-hander basically replaced a long-time fan favorite on the roster.
"Coming here and replacing Michael, I don't look at it that way. I kind of got caught up in that when I went to Philly, coming in and trying to be what Shane was to that city and to that team," he said. "Just realizing that I can only be me, so you know when I come in here, I can't be Michael Young, I can't be the person that he was for the community, for the team, for the city. Michael Young is going to go down as one of the greatest Rangers ever to put on a uniform."
Around the majors
Yankees • New York outfielder Curtis Granderson is expected to be out until May after breaking his right forearm.
The slugger was hit by a pitch from Toronto's J.A. Happ in the bottom of the first inning Sunday, his first at-bat of spring training. Also for the Yankees, captain Derek Jeter is about two weeks away from playing in a game for the first time since breaking his ankle last fall.
Pirates • Russell Martin won't be moonlighting at shortstop after all.
Pittsburgh's new catcher will not play for Canada in the World Baseball Classic because Canadian and Pirates officials weren't enamored with the idea of Martin moving from his normal position.