After being released, Haines lands with Phillies organization

Talley Haines' professional baseball career took another detour Friday when the Central High School graduate was released by the St. Louis Cardinals' organization.

But it didn't take Haines long to catch on with another team, as the right-handed reliever signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies the same day he was let go.

Haines will be assigned to either Class AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre (Pa.) or Class AA Reading (Pa.) in the next few days.

"I'm glad somebody wanted me that quick," Haines said.

Haines, an eight-year minor league veteran who has never appeared in the major leagues, signed a minor league contract with the Cardinals in the offseason, and he was hoping to begin the year with their Class AAA affiliate in Memphis, Tenn.

He pitched in no spring games for the Cardinals.

"It would have been nice to play in Memphis, with it being pretty close to home, but I didn't get too excited over it in case it didn't work out," Haines said. "I thought I pitched pretty well this spring, but that's the way it goes."

Haines, 29, has a 35-32 career minor league record with 52 saves and a 3.31 earned-run average. He has spent parts of five seasons in Class AAA, where he has primarily been a middle reliever.

A 25th-round draft choice of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1998 out of Freed-Hardeman University in Tennessee, Haines will continue to chase his big-league dream -- only this time with his sixth organization.

"Maybe I'll make the majors with the Phillies," he said.

Pennington released

Former Southeast Missouri State All-American Todd Pennington was recently released by the Cleveland Indians' organization despite putting up impressive minor league numbers.

Pennington, a right-handed reliever who was drafted in the 46th round by the Indians in 2001, has a five-year minor league record of 9-9 with 58 saves and a 2.39 ERA. He spent last season in both Class A and Class AA.

Pennington said he hopes to hook up with another organization soon.

"I pretty much just have to wait until teams break camp and then see what's out there," said Pennington, 25. "I'm hopeful I'll get picked up."