Update 12/21 14:57: Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports report that Jack Cust’s agent, Bobby Barad, has heard from multiple National League teams regarding their interest in Cust.
- Barad said that his client’s athleticism is unfairly criticized. Cust had the second fastest sprint time in Spring Training last season.
- Cust has averaged 103 walks and 182 strikeouts per season over the past three seasons in Oakland.
- The Tigers, Royals, Giants and Rangers are the clubs interested in Cust.
Update 12/18 14:24: Jon Morosi of Fox Sports Tweets: #Royals #Tigers #Giants among the clubs showing interest in Jack Cust, source says. He homers, walks and whiffs with the best of ‘em.
12/17 13:34: Jerry Crasnik of ESPN.com reports that free agent Jack Cust is expected to have two and possibly three offers on the table and be ready to decide on his next team before Christmas. The A’s haven’t given up on Cust, but it doesn’t look likely given the recent acquisition of Jake Fox and outfield prospect Michael Taylor.
Possible candidates for Cust include the Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers and the Mets. The Mets may use Cust in a Matt Stairs-type pinch hitting role, but he may be better off as a DH with an AL club. If Seattle brings in Cust, that may relegate Ken Griffey Jr. to more of a pinch-hitting role.
Cust earned $2.8 million in 2009 with the A’s while hitting 25 home runs, driving in 70 runs and hitting .240 over 149 games. You can read Jack Cust’s entire contract history and statistics here.
What do you think Cust’s contract should be for next year? 1 year? 2 year? Will he go to an NL team?
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