Big League Stew - MLB

Never thought we'd see a day when a pro ballplayer might take to selling apples or asking a fan to spare a dime, but thanks to the ongoing fraud schemes those farfetched scenes could become a reality this spring.

On Monday, Phillies reliever Scott Eyre became the latest MLB player to admit he's in a bit of a financial bind, telling MLB.com's Todd Zolecki that his assets are currently frozen due to the ongoing investigation into the Stanford Financial fraud case.

Just how bad is it? Well, because of the court-ordered freeze, Eyre says he's "broke right now" and that he has "$13 in my wallet." This after the lefty signed a one-year deal worth $2 million in the offseason.  

From MLB.com: 

"I can't pay my bills right now," Eyre said. "My wife just wrote all these checks to pay bills, and they're all going to bounce. If it takes a week or two to get my money back, I'm going to have to ask my teammates for some money. Seriously, I'm going to have to ask them that. I can't get any money out."

Eyre has another account not affiliated with Stanford, but he said that account doesn't have enough to handle living expenses — including mortgage, bills, etc. — on a long-term basis.

"We'll get our money back eventually," Eyre said. "They caught ours so early that they think we'll only lose the interest. Supposedly, the money is insured. But it's all a scheme, so who knows if that's real insurance or not?

Though some accounts may start to be unfrozen, the situation is the talk of clubhouses across Arizona and Florida. Both Johnny Damon and Xavier Nady of the Yankees have already said they've been affected and Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey says "99 percent" of his cash is stuck. Meanwhile, other sport stars like soccer's Michael Owen and golf's Vijay Singh have been mentioned as victims of Stanford's farflung Ponzi scheme. 

As for Eyre, the 36-year-old family man says he's thinking about 2009 being his last year in the game, although more financial uncertainty could change that.

While I know we're talking about someone who's already made more money that many of us could ever dream of, it's hard not to have sympathy for what these guys are going through and hope for a quick and easy solution for them. Simply put, you wouldn't wish this situation on the most hated player from your most hated rival. Godspeed, gentlemen. 

UPDATE: OK, so I couldn't resist making just a little light of the situation. Click here to read a spam email from a Major Leaguer in financial trouble. 

UPDATE #2: Todd Zolecki reports that the Phillies have agreed to advance Eyre a portion of his $2 million salary:  "We understand the circumstances," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said before Wednesday's Grapefruit League opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. "Typically, our policy is not to advance dollars. That's just not what we do, but this certainly is a different type of circumstance that several players are having to deal with."

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1338 Comments

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  1. Matt
    1. Posted by Matt Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    "Simply put, you wouldn't wish this situation on the most hated player from your most hated rival. Godspeed, gentlemen. "
    Actually, I would wish this on Vijay Singh. That guy deserves it. Serves you right, robot.
  2. Saro G
    2. Posted by Saro G Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:46 pm EDT

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    Damon, Nady and Pelfrey are all Boras clients, so I'm sure Scott recommended Stanford to other ballplayers as well.
  3. Duk
    3. Posted by 'Duk Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

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    And Matt checks in with the comment of the month! Well done, you Fiji-hating Stewie.
  4. ko
    4. Posted by ko Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:03 pm EDT

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    great
  5. ahahaha
    5. Posted by ahahaha Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

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    13 million is not being broke thats alot of money
  6. Abhi S
    6. Posted by Abhi S Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

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    this is embarrasing... i have to say.. :)
  7. Steven C
    7. Posted by Steven C Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:31 pm EDT

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    unreal
  8. Heals
    8. Posted by Heals Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:38 pm EDT

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    Buccos are winning the pennant!!!!!!!!!!!!
  9. boop
    9. Posted by boop Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:38 pm EDT

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    i have 12 dollars in my wallet. can someone help me?
  10. Chris
    10. Posted by Chris Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

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    I feel bad when these guys lose money this way. But, you should never put all your eggs in one basket no matter how good the "deal" may seem. Not one account, not one bank, not one fund, so on and on.
  11. StachaB
    11. Posted by StachaB Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:39 pm EDT

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    Please can you fix my email boxi its block
  12. podo
    12. Posted by podo Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    Who advised these athletes to put ALL their money in one place? Frickin boneheads !!!
  13. Michael W
    13. Posted by Michael W Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:31 pm EDT

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    i only have 11... please help!
  14. rstang42
    14. Posted by rstang42 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:54 pm EDT

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    Just goes to show , ever put all eggs in one basket. And if the investment seems too good to be true........................ ANd the reality is that athletes do not have finacil backgrouds or financial educations.
  15. drew
    15. Posted by drew Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:57 pm EDT

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    hard to feel sorry for any of these guys. Ever heard of diversification of assets. This is garbage compared to the stories playing out on each of our own blocks.
  16. mudvayne_bonesaw
    16. Posted by mudvayne_bonesaw Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:30 pm EDT

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    I agree with Saro, I think scumbug Scott Boras had a part in this.
  17. Nite Owl
    17. Posted by Nite Owl Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    You know Matt, don't make a statement wishing them Godspeed then pounce on on Vijay Singh for no good reason. Vijay at least has integrity compared to other golfers on tour. What an idiotic statement.
    Hey Duk, you call yourself a sports blogger???????????????
  18. Bryan T
    18. Posted by Bryan T Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:21 pm EDT

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    hey ahahahaha, he has 13$ in his wallet, not 13 million you douche bag!!!
  19. Chach
    19. Posted by Chach Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:10 pm EDT

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    He might b broke but he is still a World F****** Champion!!!! Go Phils!!!!!
  20. James M
    20. Posted by James M Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

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    He said he was down to $13 in his wallet, not $13 million.
  21. Alp H
    21. Posted by Alp H Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:27 pm EDT

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    because, he's a crack monkey!
  22. Jeffry B
    22. Posted by Jeffry B Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:43 pm EDT

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    If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is... Someone with that much money should have better advice when it comes to investing.... a very, very expensive mistake!!!!!
  23. rickinspectionplus@...
    23. Posted by rickinspectionplus@... Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:40 pm EDT

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    13 dollars dumb ass
  24. Kaolinite
    24. Posted by Kaolinite Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:42 pm EDT

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    Oh, I don't know about that. I'm sure that there are several people that wouldn't mind seeing A-Rod, Bonds are anyone of a group of arrogant players in today's game.
    Then again, my question is, "How did your daily expenses get caught up in a Ponzi Scheme?" Life savings I understand but why the stuff you live on from day to day?

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