Both third basemen passed their physicals yesterday completing a deal that many expected to happen since it was reported this weekend.  The Cardinals get heavy hitting third baseman Troy Glaus from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Scott Rolen .  The Blue Jays now have the entire left side of the Cardinals World Series infield after signing World Series MVP David Eckstein to a free agent contract.

Rolen was a fan favorite and when healthy is the most reliable third baseman in the game with his glove, plus the Jays will get a guy who hits for a little bit of power and average.  There’s no doubt Rolen is better defensively, but Troy Glaus is a guy who can hit the long ball.  In years when he’s played full seasons, he’s never hit fewer than 29 home runs and hit 47 in 2000 and 41 in 2001.  Prior to last year when he 20 homers in 115 games, he hit 38 in 2006 and 37 in 2005. 

If I were looking at just the numbers and asked to picked the better, all around player, I would pick Rolen over Glaus, but the problem is Rolen and Card’s manager Tony LaRussa did not get along and when you consider the friction between those two, I’d much rather take my chances with a refreshed Troy Glaus as opposed to a disgruntled Rolen.  Plus, taking into account injuries, both players were banged up last year, but Glaus played with a sore heel that just needed time to get health.  This is Rolen’s second go round with shoulder issues and I think there’s a better chance for recurring injuries. 

Compare Glaus and Rolen’s stats. 

Glaus’ name did appear in the 2007 Mitchell Report on steroids on baseball.  Nothing much came of it.  You can read the portion of the report that contained his name.  If you’re heading to the Cardinals Winter Warm-up this weekend, look for Glaus, he’ll be on hand.

Troy Glaus- Mitchell Report  

Days before its article about Gibbons, Sports Illustrated reported that the name of Toronto Blue Jays infielder Troy Glaus also had been in Signature Pharmacy customer records. According to the article, between September 2003 and May 2004, Glaus reportedly purchased nandrolone and testosterone from the pharmacy through the New Hope Health Center, a California anti-aging clinic, using prescriptions written by Dr. Ramon Scruggs, a California physician who was suspended from practice as of March 2007 for issuing prescriptions over the internet. The drugs were shipped to Glaus at his home in California. Glaus declined to comment on these allegations.  Glaus reportedly met with officials from the Commissioner’s Office in September.  On December 6, 2007, the Commissioner’s Office announced that there was insufficient evidence of a violation of the joint program in effect at the time of the conduct in question to warrant discipline of Glaus.