
Papers: Man Utd ready to spend £150m on three midfielders this summer
Manchester United plans to invest £150m in three midfielders this summer.
Rick Leach celebrates his 69th birthday today. He was drafted 13th overall by the Tigers in 1979 and played for both the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays during his MLB career.
CANADA - MAY 31: Rick Leach (Photo by Jeff Goode/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
Rick Leach turns 69 today.
In 1979, the Tigers picked him 13th overall. Leach reached the majors in the 1981 strike season, hitting .193/.320/.289 in 83 at-bats, mainly pinch-hitting with some first and right field. He played three seasons for Detroit without much success at the plate before his release.
After leaving Detroit, the Blue Jays signed him before the 1984 season. He spent five seasons with the Jays, playing DH, first base, right field, left field, and occasionally center field. He even pitched an inning in 1984, though it went poorly: two walks, two hits, a home run. He hit fairly well. In 1986, he posted a .308/.335/.435 line; in 1987, .282/.371/.405. Still, he lacked the power and speed expected of a corner outfielder, but as a fourth outfielder, he was solid.
His time in Toronto had challenges as well. In 1986, Leach tested positive for a recreational drug, resulting in a 60-day suspension and mandatory treatment.
In 5 years with the Jays, Rick hit .283/.34/.391 with 8 home runs and 95 RBI in 763 at-bats. After Toronto, Leach played a season with the Giants and Rangers before leaving baseball at 33. He was a likable, fan-favourite fourth outfielder, but with Bell, Barfield and Moseby in the outfield, he had no chance at a full-time role. Still, he was a useful lefty off the bench.
He was a favourite of mine partly because, back in the day, I played Statis Pro Baseball and Strat-O-Matic Baseball. Rick had good numbers in 1986 and 1987, which gave him a valuable card in those games.
Leach was also a solid college football quarterback and was a fifth-round Broncos pick in 1979.
Wishing Rick a happy 69th birthday.
Also having birthdays:
Miguel Cairo turns 52. Signed by the Dodgers as an undrafted free agent, he played 17 MLB seasons. His debut was with the Jays, who acquired him and Bill Risley for Edwin Hurtado and Paul Menhart. After 9 games (.222/.300/.296), he was traded to the Cubs for Jason Stevenson, who never made the majors. Cairo played 1,490 MLB games, hitting .264/.314/.361 with a 7.7 bWAR.
Rick Leach played for the Detroit Tigers and the Toronto Blue Jays during his MLB career.
Rick Leach had a batting average of .193 with a .320 on-base percentage and a .289 slugging percentage in his first season, and he later posted a .308 average in 1986.
Rick Leach was drafted 13th overall by the Detroit Tigers in 1979.

Manchester United plans to invest £150m in three midfielders this summer.

Man City draws with Everton in a thrilling match that could cost them the title.

Arsenal can clinch the Premier League title if they beat West Ham, says Carragher.
Carolina Hurricanes sell 4,687 Beer Skates after viral debut!
Tarik Skubal's elbow surgery could impact his contract value significantly.
Patricky Pitbull criticized Karate Combat after his fight was canceled due to a brawl in Miami. He claims the organization is covering for his opponent, Shahzaib Rind, who they say was not involved in the incident.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
Max Castillo turns 27. An international free agent signed by the Jays in 2015, he pitched in 9 games (2 starts) for them in 2022. In August, he and Samad Taylor were traded to the Royals for Whit Merrifield. He pitched 12 games for the Royals in 2022 and 2023 and is now in the Phillies farm system.
Butch Alberts turns 76. He played 6 games for the Jays in 1978, hitting .278/.278/.333. Butch and Pat Kelly were traded to the Angels for Ron Fairly in 1977.