Buzz: Mench, Hampton, Gammons and Pudge
Free-agent OF Kevin Mench is close to signing a 
one-year contract with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan, according to NPB Tracker.
…this is a sign of the time, in terms of baseball and the economy, in that while the big-time players will get their money, it’s the mid-range guy, who can easily be replaced by a minor-leaguer, who is out of a job…
The Astros signed LHP Mike Hampton to a one-year, $2 million deal, bringing him back to Houston, reports FoxSports.com.
ESPN.com’s Peter Gammons is interviewed about the Red Sox on Fire Brand of the American League, during which he is asked, “How do you feel blogs, both as a tool for grassroots media like MVN, as a part of mainstream media.”
Lastly, according to MLB.com, citing ‘league sources,’ the Marlins have been shopping C Matt Treanor, in advance of possibly pursuing free-agent C Pudge Rodriguez.
