[ESPN] Padres Sign Injured Marine as Minor League Pitcher

SAN DIEGO -- A Marine who lost a finger on his left hand while serving in Iraq has agreed to terms with the San Diego Padres, the team said Monday.

Right-hander Cooper Brannan will report to minor league spring training March 1. The 22-year-old injured his left hand during a second tour of duty in Iraq. Team spokesman George Stieren said Brannan lost his left pinky.

The team planned to announce the signing at a news conference Tuesday at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego.

Brannan was born in Houston and attended high school in Gilbert, Ariz.

Stieren said Padres general manager Kevin Towers "was adamant that we were doing this because of his potential, not because it was a great story.

"This was a legitimate baseball decision."

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2763602

I would like to know what kind of contract he signed. I highly doubt this was a legitimate baseball decision. I have an inkling that the contract he signed would amount to no more than any one of many marketing campaigns the Padres were planning to run promoting this season anyways.

I hope I am just being my skeptic self and am proved outherwise though.

 

My bad Clutch, I forgot the link.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2763602