I'll always like Mike MacDougal because he was one of the first players I remember having a lot of potential only to see it go unrealized. I know it happened with plenty of players but for some MacDougal is a guy I remember vividly from back in the day.
↵He opted out of his contract with the Nationals last week and recently signed with the, ugh, Cardinals.
↵This should help you if you don't remember him:
↵↵↵MacDougal made his major league debut in September 2001 as a 100 mph-throwing starter, but after a series of medical setbacks was converted to relief. In 2003, he saved 27 games and was an American League All-Star.
↵
Following more health problems, MacDougal lost his closer's job and was dispatched to the minor leagues, only to recapture his ninth-inning role with the Royals in 2005. After an injury-plagued first-half of 2006, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox at the deadline for a pair of minor leaguers.
He set the franchise rookie saves record in July that year.
↵No word yet if the Cardinals used any toasted ravioli to convince him to come to St. Louis.
↵Or maybe St. Louis enticed him with their cracker pizza. Or the Arch. Or the best fans in MLB (as reported by a, uh, St. Louis-based magazine).
↵Yep, no word on any of those yet.