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October 29, 2004
Greer and Jordan Jettisoned
Texas declined the mutual options for the 2005 contracts of OF RUSTY GREER and OF BRIAN JORDAN.
Greer will receive a $600,000 buyout in lieu of an $8,000,000 salary. Jordan receives $125,000 instead of his 2005 salary of $4,000,000.
This season, Greer completed a three-year, $21.2 million contract having played in a total of 52 games, none since July 11, 2002. Numerous foot and shoulder injuries, caused in part by his all-out play, effectively derailed his promising career by age 31. He was a terrific player, hitting .320/.400/.500 during the Ranger heyday of 1996-1999 but not receiving much attention. In a fairer world, Greer would have scored and driven in over 1,000 runs and belted 200+ homers over his career. Greer's career on-base percentage of .387 ranks 20th among active players.
Greer will turn 36 next January and probably will return to Texas as a non-roster invitee. He remains active in the D/FW community.
Jordan will not return, and as he approaches age 38 with two consecutive injury-plagued seasons behind him, he'll do well just to receive an NRI. He batted a dire .222/.275/.363, and only a brief burst of adequacy in August pushed those numbers that "high." Jordan has had a solid career, but this may be the end of the line.
Posted by Lucas at October 29, 2004 05:49 PM