BASEBALL Red Sox claim Mark Malaska

The 25-year-old left-hander was waived by Tampa Bay.
SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mark Malaska's day of phone tag with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays front office resulted in bad news for the Cardinal Mooney High graduate.
Malaska learned from Devil Rays assistant general manager Scott Profroc on Monday that the team placed him on waivers.
Shortly thereafter, however, Malaska was claimed off the waiver wire by the Boston Red Sox.
Malaska said he talked with his agent, Tom O'Connell, who "was very positive about the move and the possibilities of the situation," said the left-hander.
"But, he didn't understand what the Devil Rays were doing."
Malaska also talked by phone with Boston's director of baseball operations, Peter Wolfork, who said new manager Terry Francona and general manager Theo Epstein would be calling him in the next few days.
Another move possible
It was a lot of excitement in a short span for the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Malaska. Waiver rules require the Red Sox must put Malaska on the major league 40-man roster.
"With all the rumors going on about Alex Rodriguez on the move from the Texas Rangers, Mark could be part of some of the goings on," O'Connell said.
Malaska, who will turn 26-years old on Jan. 17, was somewhat astounded by the situation.
"I am a little confused because of the good numbers I put up with the Devil Rays, but now I look forward to contributing with the Red Sox," Malaska said.
"You have to realize that a lot of things in the big leagues are out of one's control," Malaska said. "And until you become established, your career is a one day at a time situation. For me where it is now, it is reporting to spring training and trying to make a team."
Malaska appeared in 22 games with the Devil Rays last season. He compiled a 2-1 record and 2.81 earned-run average in 16 innings.