What's The Deal With...

The Long Island Ducks?

AFTER JOSE OFFERMAN attacked an opposing pitcher who hit him in an Atlantic League game last week, the reaction of most fans was shock: Jose Offerman is still playing baseball?!? Yes, the 38-year-old plies his trade for the Long Island Ducks, who have become a refuge for ex--big leaguers. The Ducks, an independent team, have 13 of them, including Edgardo Alfonzo and Carl Everett. The marquee names—Pete Rose Jr. is also on the team—help with the gate; the team averages a league-best 6,071 fans. But it's not about money: The average Duck makes about $2,100 a month. "They're playing to be free agents to all major league teams," says Ducks G.M. Michael Pfaff. "It's a pretty good deal." Indeed, more than 40 Ducks have signed with big league organizations since 2000, including a few—Carlos Baerga and Bill Pulsipher—who got back to the show.