Yankee 21
07-17-2003, 09:34 AM
OK, didn't see this one coming.....
07/16/2003 8:14 PM ET
Yankees obtain Benitez from Mets
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- During Monday's All-Star media day in Chicago, Armando Benitez talked about what it would be like for him to change New York uniforms should he get traded from the Mets to the Yankees.
"At least I'd be able to stay in New York," Benitez said. "I wouldn't have to move out of my house."
Wednesday, the move -- or non-move -- became a reality, as the Yankees acquired the All-Star reliever from the Mets in exchange for right-hander Jason Anderson and a pair of minor-league pitchers. As part of the deal, the Yankees will take on the remainder of Benitez's $6.75 million contract, roughly $3 million.
"I don't think there was anyone else out there better than Armando Benitez who could fill this position for us at this time," said general manager Brian Cashman. "He clearly stands out as a man among boys in terms of available players on the market."
Benitez will be used as a right-handed setup man with the Yankees, joining Antonio Osuna and southpaw Chris Hammond as the team's bridge between the starting pitchers and closer Mariano Rivera.
"No matter where I go, I'll do the job they want me to do," Benitez said on Monday. "It won't be a problem for me. Every team knows what I can do, to be a closer, so I won't be upset if I'm a setup man on some team. I'll just do my job."
"I think his career is going to be as a closer, but his willingness to set up here shows what kind of person he is and the type of teammate he will be," Cashman said. "If there's an ego there, he's going to check it at the door because he wants to be a part of this team."
Benitez, who did not pitch in Tuesday's All-Star Game, has pitched in a setup role before, doing so for the first four years of his big-league career in Baltimore. When he joined the Mets in 1999, he was John Franco's setup man until he assumed the closer's job during the season.
"I've been setup man for a lot of good closers -- Randy Myers, Lee Smith, John Franco, Doug Jones," Benitez said. "I won't be upset as long as we win. If I can help the team, that's all I want. Rivera and me would be a good combo, we'd give the team a chance to win."
PLAYING ACROSS TOWN
The Mets and Yankees have been involved in a dozen moves since 1962:
Nov. 1964: Yankees draft outfielder Duke Carmel from the Mets' Triple-A Buffalo squad
June 15, 1966: Mets purchase pitcher Bob Friend from the Yankees
June 29, 1967: Mets purchase pitcher Hal Reniff from the Yankees
Dec. 9, 1977: Mets trade infielder Roy Staiger to Yankees for infielder Sergio Ferrer
Aug. 20, 1979: Mets purchase pitcher Ray Burris from the Yankees
April 18, 1983: Mets trade pitcher Steve Ray and a player-to-be-named later (infielder Felix Perdomo) to the Yankees for infielde Tucker Ashford
Dec. 11, 1987: Mets trade infielder Rafael Santana and pitcher Victor Garcia for catcher Phil Lombardi, outfielder Darren Reed and pitcher Steve Frey
June 9, 1992: Mets trade pitcher Tim Burke and cash for pitcher Lee Guetterman
Dec. 7, 1992: Mets select pitcher Mike Draper from Columbus in the Rule 5 draft
Sept. 17, 1993: Mets trade pitcher Frank Tanana for pitcher Kenny Greer
Dec. 7, 2001: Mets trade third baseman Robin Ventura for outfielder David Justice
July 16, 2003: Mets trade pitcher Armando Benitez pitchers for Jason Anderson, Anderson Garcia and Ryan Bicondoa
Benitez is 3-3 with 21 saves and a 3.10 ERA in 45 games for the Mets, but the big right-hander has also blown seven saves, tying him for the most in the Majors this season. One of those blown saves came against the Yankees on June 22, when he walked four batters in the ninth inning, tying the game. The Yankees went on to win, 7-3, in front of a national television audience.
"He's got big ability as we all know and we've all seen, and he's certainly capable," Cashman said. "In this town, some failures get magnified and talked about, but he's had a lot of success for the Mets, too. A change of scenery can do him good. This could breathe new life into Armando."
Entering the season, Benitez had converted 117 of his 129 save opportunities over the past three seasons, a 90.7 percent success rate -- the best in baseball. His 160 saves for the Mets are second on the club's all-time list, and he became the first Met to notch 30 saves in three consecutive seasons.
But Benitez blew some big saves for the Mets, most notably Game 1 of the 2000 World Series against the Yankees. The Mets went on to lose the Subway Series in five games, with Benitez's blown save serving as the turning point. Benitez believes that Mets fans will realize what he contributed to the team once he's gone.
"Maybe someday they'll recognize what I did there," he said on Monday.
"In a new situation, in a setup role, Armando has the opportunity to show the New York scene that he can be successful in tough spots and help us win a championship," Cashman said. "Armando has a fresh start in the same city to prove that some of this stuff might be overblown."
The Yankees have struggled to find consistency in the bullpen, using 11 different relief pitchers this season. Steve Karsay's season-ending shoulder surgery left a gaping hole in the bullpen, and Osuna's two stints on the disabled list had the Yankees scrambling to find a right-handed setup man.
On June 25, the Yankees traded for Cleveland right-hander Dan Miceli, hoping he would fill the setup role until Osuna returned. But Miceli has a 5.40 ERA in six appearances with the Yankees, throwing just 3 1/3 innings.
"The bullpen has been the obvious need for our club," Cashman said. "The fact that we asked Mariano to be in the eighth inning as much as he has in the first half was a concern. He hasn't complained one bit, but if we kept on that path, I don't know how far we would have gone. We've been very aggressive in trying to find someone to help bridge the gap and replace Karsay."
Benitez has a storied history with the Yankees, dating back to his days as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. In May 1998, Benitez drilled Tino Martinez during a game, sparking a bench-clearing brawl between the two teams.
"He's now a Yankee, and our guys will accept him as a Yankee," Cashman said. "That's an issue I'm not worried about. That was a long time ago. It was an issue then, because he wasn't a member of our team. But just like when we acquired Roger Clemens from Toronto, we'll move forward as a team with a new teammate.
"There have been many a player over the years that we've brought in that people wondered how they would fit or if it would work," added Cashman. "We feel he's going to fit nicely into our clubhouse."
Anderson, 24, has appeared in 22 games for the Yankees, going 1-0 with a 4.79 ERA. Anderson, who was penciled in as the closer for Triple-A Columbus this season before making the Yankees out of Spring Training,
In addition to Anderson, the Yankees sent right-handers Anderson Garcia and Ryan Bicondoa to the Mets. Bicondoa, a cousin of late Cardinals pitcher Darryl Kile, was 3-2 with a 3.54 ERA in 15 games (five starts) for the Tampa Yankees of the Single-A Florida State League. Garcia is 3-6 with a 3.32 ERA in 16 games for Battle Creek of the Single-A Midwest League.
The deal is the 12th between the two clubs and the first since the Mets swapped Robin Ventura for David Justice on Dec. 7, 2001.
07/16/2003 8:14 PM ET
Yankees obtain Benitez from Mets
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- During Monday's All-Star media day in Chicago, Armando Benitez talked about what it would be like for him to change New York uniforms should he get traded from the Mets to the Yankees.
"At least I'd be able to stay in New York," Benitez said. "I wouldn't have to move out of my house."
Wednesday, the move -- or non-move -- became a reality, as the Yankees acquired the All-Star reliever from the Mets in exchange for right-hander Jason Anderson and a pair of minor-league pitchers. As part of the deal, the Yankees will take on the remainder of Benitez's $6.75 million contract, roughly $3 million.
"I don't think there was anyone else out there better than Armando Benitez who could fill this position for us at this time," said general manager Brian Cashman. "He clearly stands out as a man among boys in terms of available players on the market."
Benitez will be used as a right-handed setup man with the Yankees, joining Antonio Osuna and southpaw Chris Hammond as the team's bridge between the starting pitchers and closer Mariano Rivera.
"No matter where I go, I'll do the job they want me to do," Benitez said on Monday. "It won't be a problem for me. Every team knows what I can do, to be a closer, so I won't be upset if I'm a setup man on some team. I'll just do my job."
"I think his career is going to be as a closer, but his willingness to set up here shows what kind of person he is and the type of teammate he will be," Cashman said. "If there's an ego there, he's going to check it at the door because he wants to be a part of this team."
Benitez, who did not pitch in Tuesday's All-Star Game, has pitched in a setup role before, doing so for the first four years of his big-league career in Baltimore. When he joined the Mets in 1999, he was John Franco's setup man until he assumed the closer's job during the season.
"I've been setup man for a lot of good closers -- Randy Myers, Lee Smith, John Franco, Doug Jones," Benitez said. "I won't be upset as long as we win. If I can help the team, that's all I want. Rivera and me would be a good combo, we'd give the team a chance to win."
PLAYING ACROSS TOWN
The Mets and Yankees have been involved in a dozen moves since 1962:
Nov. 1964: Yankees draft outfielder Duke Carmel from the Mets' Triple-A Buffalo squad
June 15, 1966: Mets purchase pitcher Bob Friend from the Yankees
June 29, 1967: Mets purchase pitcher Hal Reniff from the Yankees
Dec. 9, 1977: Mets trade infielder Roy Staiger to Yankees for infielder Sergio Ferrer
Aug. 20, 1979: Mets purchase pitcher Ray Burris from the Yankees
April 18, 1983: Mets trade pitcher Steve Ray and a player-to-be-named later (infielder Felix Perdomo) to the Yankees for infielde Tucker Ashford
Dec. 11, 1987: Mets trade infielder Rafael Santana and pitcher Victor Garcia for catcher Phil Lombardi, outfielder Darren Reed and pitcher Steve Frey
June 9, 1992: Mets trade pitcher Tim Burke and cash for pitcher Lee Guetterman
Dec. 7, 1992: Mets select pitcher Mike Draper from Columbus in the Rule 5 draft
Sept. 17, 1993: Mets trade pitcher Frank Tanana for pitcher Kenny Greer
Dec. 7, 2001: Mets trade third baseman Robin Ventura for outfielder David Justice
July 16, 2003: Mets trade pitcher Armando Benitez pitchers for Jason Anderson, Anderson Garcia and Ryan Bicondoa
Benitez is 3-3 with 21 saves and a 3.10 ERA in 45 games for the Mets, but the big right-hander has also blown seven saves, tying him for the most in the Majors this season. One of those blown saves came against the Yankees on June 22, when he walked four batters in the ninth inning, tying the game. The Yankees went on to win, 7-3, in front of a national television audience.
"He's got big ability as we all know and we've all seen, and he's certainly capable," Cashman said. "In this town, some failures get magnified and talked about, but he's had a lot of success for the Mets, too. A change of scenery can do him good. This could breathe new life into Armando."
Entering the season, Benitez had converted 117 of his 129 save opportunities over the past three seasons, a 90.7 percent success rate -- the best in baseball. His 160 saves for the Mets are second on the club's all-time list, and he became the first Met to notch 30 saves in three consecutive seasons.
But Benitez blew some big saves for the Mets, most notably Game 1 of the 2000 World Series against the Yankees. The Mets went on to lose the Subway Series in five games, with Benitez's blown save serving as the turning point. Benitez believes that Mets fans will realize what he contributed to the team once he's gone.
"Maybe someday they'll recognize what I did there," he said on Monday.
"In a new situation, in a setup role, Armando has the opportunity to show the New York scene that he can be successful in tough spots and help us win a championship," Cashman said. "Armando has a fresh start in the same city to prove that some of this stuff might be overblown."
The Yankees have struggled to find consistency in the bullpen, using 11 different relief pitchers this season. Steve Karsay's season-ending shoulder surgery left a gaping hole in the bullpen, and Osuna's two stints on the disabled list had the Yankees scrambling to find a right-handed setup man.
On June 25, the Yankees traded for Cleveland right-hander Dan Miceli, hoping he would fill the setup role until Osuna returned. But Miceli has a 5.40 ERA in six appearances with the Yankees, throwing just 3 1/3 innings.
"The bullpen has been the obvious need for our club," Cashman said. "The fact that we asked Mariano to be in the eighth inning as much as he has in the first half was a concern. He hasn't complained one bit, but if we kept on that path, I don't know how far we would have gone. We've been very aggressive in trying to find someone to help bridge the gap and replace Karsay."
Benitez has a storied history with the Yankees, dating back to his days as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. In May 1998, Benitez drilled Tino Martinez during a game, sparking a bench-clearing brawl between the two teams.
"He's now a Yankee, and our guys will accept him as a Yankee," Cashman said. "That's an issue I'm not worried about. That was a long time ago. It was an issue then, because he wasn't a member of our team. But just like when we acquired Roger Clemens from Toronto, we'll move forward as a team with a new teammate.
"There have been many a player over the years that we've brought in that people wondered how they would fit or if it would work," added Cashman. "We feel he's going to fit nicely into our clubhouse."
Anderson, 24, has appeared in 22 games for the Yankees, going 1-0 with a 4.79 ERA. Anderson, who was penciled in as the closer for Triple-A Columbus this season before making the Yankees out of Spring Training,
In addition to Anderson, the Yankees sent right-handers Anderson Garcia and Ryan Bicondoa to the Mets. Bicondoa, a cousin of late Cardinals pitcher Darryl Kile, was 3-2 with a 3.54 ERA in 15 games (five starts) for the Tampa Yankees of the Single-A Florida State League. Garcia is 3-6 with a 3.32 ERA in 16 games for Battle Creek of the Single-A Midwest League.
The deal is the 12th between the two clubs and the first since the Mets swapped Robin Ventura for David Justice on Dec. 7, 2001.