Texas Rangers team owner Tom Hicks, center, looks on as Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani, right, chats with Sammy Sosa, left, as Giuliani visited the team during batting practice prior to a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007. From AP Photo by Tony Gutierrez.

[Seen shaking hands:  former rising star in 2001 to DC disgrace to 2008 rejectee of GOP money men nationwide “ and on the right, Rudy Giuliani.]

Sammy Sosa lets it be known this week he’s up for the 2009 season if you are.  Sosa, the legit single-season home-run king, who never appeared on the Mitchell Report with Mark McGwire or Barry Bonds, has been informed by the Marlins that they’re looking for a younger outfield this season. The Trib reports that Sosa recently gave an interview to the Dominican newspaper Listin Diario that he currently has no offers.  At 40, you can’t blame teams for their skepticism, but you have to wonder if the same atmosphere of collusion that Barry Bonds is convinced exists doesn’t apply to Sosa as well (assuming it exists).   In 2007, Sosa hit .252, with 21 HRs and 92 RBI in 114 games for Texas, and passed the 600-HR mark, as one of only six players to do so.