Griffey to Braves; Injury updates on Glaus, Kotsay, Francis; Penny a wuss

The Braves will likely announce the signing of Ken Griffey Jr. today. Griffey will play left field when facing righties (he can still hit them). The Braves hope he can still generate a little pop in his bat – something they desperately need.

Never one to mince words, Larry Bowa called form Dodger’s pitcher Brad Penny a ’spoiled underachiever’. No one really is coming to Penny’s defense over the words.

Rockies pitcher Jeff Francis will likely need surgery. He has a torn left labrum that isn’t healing, and surgery now looms. There’s a possibility he could be back in September, but don’t count on such a rosy prognosis. Most likely 2010. Tough hit for the Rockies, but internally, the club wasn’t counting on his this year.

Cardinals 3B Troy Glaus is recovering slowly from off season surgery. Glaus had surgery repaired damaged muscle near his right shoulder, but he has not returned to any baseball related activities since. The Cards had expected him to miss the start of the season, but now, no one is sure.

The Red Sox said that they did not know OF Mark Kotsay needed surgery (he’s out until May) when they resigned him this off season. With J.D. Drew’s back getting a little scary, Kotsay would have taken up a lot of the slack (along with Rocco Baldelli – but he can’t be counted on as well). If Drew’s back continues to cause problems, the Sox may make some kind of deal.

Tom Glavine will be back with the Braves with an incentive laden contract. Glavine is 42, and was just 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA in 13 starts last year, before having surgeries on his shoulder and elbow. This is one of those things that if nothing happens, nothing is lost. Nice Glavine could get one last try.