GaryMrMets
03-28-2003, 09:32 PM
Devil Rays Acquire Three Players
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays signed left-handed pitcher Mike Venafro and outfielder Al Martin, and claimed outfielder George Lombard off waivers from the Detroit Tigers.
Right-handed pitcher Brandon Backe and outfielder Jason Tyner were optioned to Triple-A Durham, and left-handed reliever Cedrick Bowers was reassigned to minor league camp.
Martin, like Venafro, agreed to a one-year contract. He hit .342 this spring for the Marlins with four doubles, two home runs and nine RBI. He last played in the majors two years ago for Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella in Seattle.
Martin hit .240 with seven homers, 42 RBI and nine stolen bases in 100 games for the Mariners in 2001. He has a lifetime average of .278 with 129 homers, 459 RBI and 171 stolen bases in 1,132 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres and Mariners.
Venafro was released by the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. He appeared in eight games this spring, going 1-1 with a 6.30 ERA. He has pitched in 259 games, all in relief, during his career with the Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics.
The 27-year-old Lombard was a second-round draft pick of the Braves in 1994. The Tigers acquired him last June and he hit .241 with five homers, 13 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 72 games the rest of the year.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays signed left-handed pitcher Mike Venafro and outfielder Al Martin, and claimed outfielder George Lombard off waivers from the Detroit Tigers.
Right-handed pitcher Brandon Backe and outfielder Jason Tyner were optioned to Triple-A Durham, and left-handed reliever Cedrick Bowers was reassigned to minor league camp.
Martin, like Venafro, agreed to a one-year contract. He hit .342 this spring for the Marlins with four doubles, two home runs and nine RBI. He last played in the majors two years ago for Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella in Seattle.
Martin hit .240 with seven homers, 42 RBI and nine stolen bases in 100 games for the Mariners in 2001. He has a lifetime average of .278 with 129 homers, 459 RBI and 171 stolen bases in 1,132 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres and Mariners.
Venafro was released by the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. He appeared in eight games this spring, going 1-1 with a 6.30 ERA. He has pitched in 259 games, all in relief, during his career with the Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics.
The 27-year-old Lombard was a second-round draft pick of the Braves in 1994. The Tigers acquired him last June and he hit .241 with five homers, 13 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 72 games the rest of the year.