Who will the 'player to be named' in the Wright trade be?

[amag]

Matthews may be gone
By Joe Strauss
Of the Post-Dispatch
09/04/2002 10:53 PM
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/Sports/Cardinals/D5463989EE9FFB6C86256C2B0018A245?OpenDocument&Headline=Matthews%20may%20be%20gone

A decision may not be formalized until Sept. 30, but lefthanded reliever Mike Matthews is expected become the player to be named by the Milwaukee Brewers in the trade that brought Wright to the Cardinals Aug. 29. Matthews' name is on a list of three the Cardinals provided the Brewers at the time of the trade.

Matthews does not become arbitration-eligible until after next season and has experience as a starting pitcher, making him the most appealing option to the micro-market Brewers, according to club and industry sources.

Matthews remains on the disabled list because of a strained hip flexor but expects to be activated this weekend. The Cardinals fortified their lefthanded relief by trading for Jeff Fassero on Aug. 25.

Matthews threw two simulated innings against hitters Eduardo Perez, Miguel Cairo and Ivan Cruz Wednesday. Afterward, he reported no discomfort.

[amag]

I like Mathews... and I hope he does not leave the team. He's cheap, and reliable. He lefthanded, and starts and releives. And extremley usefull member on the Cardinals staff and I wish I knew what other players would possibly be going. I'm sure one of the others would be a better fit to be traded than him.

[amag]

Matthews awaits word on joining Brewers

Mike Matthews remained in limbo Monday. Actually, Matthews remained on the disabled list waiting to learn when he will be named as the second half of the Cardinals' trade Aug. 28 for Milwaukee Brewers righthander Jamey Wright.

Or, in the poetic words of one Milwaukee scribe, Matthews is waiting to leave a pennant race for a sausage race.

"It's my understanding I'm the guy they want," Matthews said Monday. "But until I hear something official, there's not a whole lot I can do."

The Brewers hope to at least audition Matthews as a starter. Whether that look comes as soon as this season remains unclear pending the move. Matthews says the strained hip flexor that landed him on the disabled list Aug. 21 has healed sufficiently for him to pitch. The Cardinals, however, have chosen not to activate him at a time when rosters have expanded and the 15-day disabled list has become virtually irrelevant.

Veteran lefthander Jeff Fassero has inherited Matthews' role. Mathews threw on the side Saturday; however, it's unlikely he would be activated to pitch before the Brewers formally select him from a list of three candidates. The deadline for the move is Sept. 30.

"I'd rather have it done so I can pitch," Matthews said. "Anything is better than walking around here waiting for something to happen either way."