Baseball Guru
08-31-2001, 08:07 PM
By Associated Press
August 31, 2001, 6:47 AM EDT
ATLANTA -- Julio Franco, who has played just one game in the major leagues since 1997, was acquired Friday by the Atlanta Braves, who also got right-handed reliever Rudy Seanez in a separate deal.
Franco, 40, was obtained from the Mexico City Tigers after leading the Mexican League with a .437 average. He had 18 homers and 90 RBIs in 110 games.
Franco, the MVP of the 1990 All-Star game, played one game in the major leagues in 1999, going 0-for-1 for Tampa Bay on Sept. 22. Before that, he hadn't played in the majors since 1997, when he played 120 games for Cleveland and Milwaukee.
"We believe the addition of Julio will provide us with increased offensive capabilities and depth," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said.
Franco hit .301 in 1,891 major league games with the Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers and Devil Rays.
Seanez was acquired from San Diego for a player to be named after Atlanta submitted a waiver claim.
Seanez, 32, was 0-1 with one save and a 2.63 ERA in 26 games for the Padres. He allowed no runs in 22 of his 26 appearances with the Padres and held opponents to a .176 batting average. He had 24 strikeouts and 15 walks in 24 innings.
Seanez pitched for the Braves from 1998-2000, going 12-6 with seven saves in 113 games. He had a 3.33 ERA during three seasons with Atlanta.
Franco and Seanez were expected to join the Braves before Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Both were obtained on the last day for teams to acquire players eligible for postseason play.
The Braves also said they will recall left-handed pitcher Odalis Perez and catcher Eddie Perez from injury rehabitation assignments, and recall left-handed pitcher Damian Moss and infielder Jesse Garcia from Triple-A Richmond on Saturday.
The four are expected to join the Braves on Saturday.
Odalis Perez, on the disabled list since July 22 because of a cut on his left hand, was 6-7 with a 4.85 ERA in 19 games for Atlanta. He was 1-0 with a 2.74 in five rehab apperances for Richmond.
Eddie Perez, who has missed all but seven games in the last two seasons with a torn right rotator cuff, last appeared in a game with the Braves on May 3, 2000. He hit .342 with four home runs and five RBIs in 10 games with Richmond during his rehab.
Moss, who had no decisions with a 1.80 ERA in four relief appearances for Atlanta earlier in the season, was 5-4 with a 3.15 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 88 2-3 innings for Richmond.
Garcia hit .264 with two homers, 22 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 104 games with Richmond. He was 1-for-5 in 10 games with Atlanta in July.
Copyright © 2001, The Associated Press
August 31, 2001, 6:47 AM EDT
ATLANTA -- Julio Franco, who has played just one game in the major leagues since 1997, was acquired Friday by the Atlanta Braves, who also got right-handed reliever Rudy Seanez in a separate deal.
Franco, 40, was obtained from the Mexico City Tigers after leading the Mexican League with a .437 average. He had 18 homers and 90 RBIs in 110 games.
Franco, the MVP of the 1990 All-Star game, played one game in the major leagues in 1999, going 0-for-1 for Tampa Bay on Sept. 22. Before that, he hadn't played in the majors since 1997, when he played 120 games for Cleveland and Milwaukee.
"We believe the addition of Julio will provide us with increased offensive capabilities and depth," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said.
Franco hit .301 in 1,891 major league games with the Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers and Devil Rays.
Seanez was acquired from San Diego for a player to be named after Atlanta submitted a waiver claim.
Seanez, 32, was 0-1 with one save and a 2.63 ERA in 26 games for the Padres. He allowed no runs in 22 of his 26 appearances with the Padres and held opponents to a .176 batting average. He had 24 strikeouts and 15 walks in 24 innings.
Seanez pitched for the Braves from 1998-2000, going 12-6 with seven saves in 113 games. He had a 3.33 ERA during three seasons with Atlanta.
Franco and Seanez were expected to join the Braves before Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Both were obtained on the last day for teams to acquire players eligible for postseason play.
The Braves also said they will recall left-handed pitcher Odalis Perez and catcher Eddie Perez from injury rehabitation assignments, and recall left-handed pitcher Damian Moss and infielder Jesse Garcia from Triple-A Richmond on Saturday.
The four are expected to join the Braves on Saturday.
Odalis Perez, on the disabled list since July 22 because of a cut on his left hand, was 6-7 with a 4.85 ERA in 19 games for Atlanta. He was 1-0 with a 2.74 in five rehab apperances for Richmond.
Eddie Perez, who has missed all but seven games in the last two seasons with a torn right rotator cuff, last appeared in a game with the Braves on May 3, 2000. He hit .342 with four home runs and five RBIs in 10 games with Richmond during his rehab.
Moss, who had no decisions with a 1.80 ERA in four relief appearances for Atlanta earlier in the season, was 5-4 with a 3.15 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 88 2-3 innings for Richmond.
Garcia hit .264 with two homers, 22 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 104 games with Richmond. He was 1-for-5 in 10 games with Atlanta in July.
Copyright © 2001, The Associated Press