The 'Roid Kings

Are now unemployed.

Sosa, who turned 37 Saturday, came to the Orioles in a Feb. 2 trade with the Chicago Cubs for second baseman Jerry Hairston and two minor leaguers. After hitting 35 or more homers in each year since the strike-shortened 1994 season, Sosa was expected to provide an immediate offensive boost while batting cleanup behind Tejada.

Instead, he hit just .221 with 14 homers (his fewest since 1992) and 45 RBIs in 102 games.

Palmeiro's season included collecting his 3,000 career hit in July, and within weeks, being suspended for failing a drug test. Palmeiro, 41, continues to deny he intentionally took steroids, but he has no concrete proof as to why stanozolol was found in his system during a May drug test.

Sosa, while never being suspended for 'Roids has long been rumored to be a Palmeiro's equal in the 'Roid department. Of course, the corked bat thing dooms him in my book.