Durango53
08-06-2003, 08:13 PM
Yankees trade Benitez to Mariners for Nelson
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ESPN.com news services
SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners traded reliever Jeff Nelson to the New York Yankees on Wednesday for right-hander Armando Benitez and cash.
Nelson criticized the Mariners' front office last week after the team failed to make a major deal at the trade deadline. The 36-year-old right-hander pitched for the Yankees from 1996-2000.
The Yankees acquired Benitez in a trade with the New York Mets on July 16.
The deal comes less than a week after the trade deadline. Each team actually claimed the other player, permitting them to make a deal only with each other.
Nelson was working out in the weight room when a clubhouse worker came in and told him manager Bob Melvin wanted to see him.
"I had no idea what that was about, but when I got there they told me there had been a trade," Nelson said. "Right away, I wondered where?
"When they told me New York, I was very surprised. The big surprise is that they would deal with a rival team."
The Mariners and Yankees open a three-game series at Yankee Stadium on Friday night and it could be a playoff preview -- both teams are in first place.
New York beat Seattle in the AL championship series in 2000 and 2001. Nelson pitched for the Yankees the first time, the Mariners the next year.
"Well, there are a lot of strong right-handed hitters on the Mariners, so I guess that's where I'll be used," Nelson said.
As he spoke with reporters, Seattle players passed by and wished him well. Outfielder Mike Cameron gave the pitcher a big hug and said, "See you this weekend."
Nelson was 3-2 with a 3.35 ERA and seven saves in 46 games for the Mariners. After saving 21 games for the Mets this season, Benitez was 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA for the Yankees. Both are eligible to become free agents at the end of the season.
The Yankees acquired Benitez hoping he would help shore up a shaky bullpen and take some of the workload off closer Mariano Rivera. But the Yankees have still had trouble in the late innings -- Rivera recently pitched in four straight games for the first time in his career.
Nelson was a huge success as a right-handed setup man for New York, helping the Yankees win four World Series titles in five years before signing with Seattle as a free agent.
He said he had mixed emotions over the deal, emphasizing that he enjoyed his time in Seattle but also pointing out he is excited about rejoining the Yankees and manager Joe Torre.
"All that stuff that was written when I left New York was way overblown by the media and especially TV," Nelson said. "I never had one bit of trouble with the Yankees or the manager. Never."
Last Thursday, Nelson ripped into Mariners management for failing to make a major trade before the deadline. A day later, he apologized to the team's top two executives for questioning their integrity by saying he didn't believe they tried to make a deal.
However, he refused to back down on anything else he said.
Nelson requested a private meeting with Mariners chairman and CEO Howard Lincoln, and team president Chuck Armstrong when he got to Safeco Field. He went to the team's executive offices and talked to Lincoln and Armstrong together.
Nelson said he did not shake hands with Lincoln and Armstrong when he left to go back to the clubhouse.
Mariners general manager Pat Gillick said in a statement that the trade was intended to give Melvin help in the bullpen.
"This trade gives Bob more options in the bullpen," Gillick said. "Benitez has had great success this season and throughout his career getting left-handers out. He's a high quality setup guy and has nearly 200 career saves, which gives us additional protection as (Kazuhiro) Sasaki returns from his injuries."
Sasaki, the Mariners' closer, has been on the disabled list with a fractured rib since June 11. He was scheduled to join the team in Cleveland for Wednesday night's game. How well he pitches will probably help determine Benitez's role with Seattle.
"It gives us more options," Melvin said. "Not to take anything away from Shigetoshi (Hasegawa), who has been fabulous as a closer, but we've got another guy experienced in that role."
Nelson pitched for Seattle from 1992-95 before being traded to the Yankees with Tino Martinez after the Mariners reached the 1995 AL championship series.
An offseason resident of the Seattle suburb of Issaquah, Nelson holds the Mariners record for most appearances by a pitcher with 383. In 2001, when the Mariners tied the major league record with 116 wins, Nelson pitched in his only All-Star game.
The Mets traded Benitez, 30, to the Yankees for right-hander Jason Anderson and minor league pitchers Anderson Garcia and Ryan Bicondoa.
Benitez was 3-3 with a 3.10 ERA in 45 games and 49 1/3 innings with the Mets this year. He pitched 9 1/3 innings for the Yankees.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services
SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners traded reliever Jeff Nelson to the New York Yankees on Wednesday for right-hander Armando Benitez and cash.
Nelson criticized the Mariners' front office last week after the team failed to make a major deal at the trade deadline. The 36-year-old right-hander pitched for the Yankees from 1996-2000.
The Yankees acquired Benitez in a trade with the New York Mets on July 16.
The deal comes less than a week after the trade deadline. Each team actually claimed the other player, permitting them to make a deal only with each other.
Nelson was working out in the weight room when a clubhouse worker came in and told him manager Bob Melvin wanted to see him.
"I had no idea what that was about, but when I got there they told me there had been a trade," Nelson said. "Right away, I wondered where?
"When they told me New York, I was very surprised. The big surprise is that they would deal with a rival team."
The Mariners and Yankees open a three-game series at Yankee Stadium on Friday night and it could be a playoff preview -- both teams are in first place.
New York beat Seattle in the AL championship series in 2000 and 2001. Nelson pitched for the Yankees the first time, the Mariners the next year.
"Well, there are a lot of strong right-handed hitters on the Mariners, so I guess that's where I'll be used," Nelson said.
As he spoke with reporters, Seattle players passed by and wished him well. Outfielder Mike Cameron gave the pitcher a big hug and said, "See you this weekend."
Nelson was 3-2 with a 3.35 ERA and seven saves in 46 games for the Mariners. After saving 21 games for the Mets this season, Benitez was 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA for the Yankees. Both are eligible to become free agents at the end of the season.
The Yankees acquired Benitez hoping he would help shore up a shaky bullpen and take some of the workload off closer Mariano Rivera. But the Yankees have still had trouble in the late innings -- Rivera recently pitched in four straight games for the first time in his career.
Nelson was a huge success as a right-handed setup man for New York, helping the Yankees win four World Series titles in five years before signing with Seattle as a free agent.
He said he had mixed emotions over the deal, emphasizing that he enjoyed his time in Seattle but also pointing out he is excited about rejoining the Yankees and manager Joe Torre.
"All that stuff that was written when I left New York was way overblown by the media and especially TV," Nelson said. "I never had one bit of trouble with the Yankees or the manager. Never."
Last Thursday, Nelson ripped into Mariners management for failing to make a major trade before the deadline. A day later, he apologized to the team's top two executives for questioning their integrity by saying he didn't believe they tried to make a deal.
However, he refused to back down on anything else he said.
Nelson requested a private meeting with Mariners chairman and CEO Howard Lincoln, and team president Chuck Armstrong when he got to Safeco Field. He went to the team's executive offices and talked to Lincoln and Armstrong together.
Nelson said he did not shake hands with Lincoln and Armstrong when he left to go back to the clubhouse.
Mariners general manager Pat Gillick said in a statement that the trade was intended to give Melvin help in the bullpen.
"This trade gives Bob more options in the bullpen," Gillick said. "Benitez has had great success this season and throughout his career getting left-handers out. He's a high quality setup guy and has nearly 200 career saves, which gives us additional protection as (Kazuhiro) Sasaki returns from his injuries."
Sasaki, the Mariners' closer, has been on the disabled list with a fractured rib since June 11. He was scheduled to join the team in Cleveland for Wednesday night's game. How well he pitches will probably help determine Benitez's role with Seattle.
"It gives us more options," Melvin said. "Not to take anything away from Shigetoshi (Hasegawa), who has been fabulous as a closer, but we've got another guy experienced in that role."
Nelson pitched for Seattle from 1992-95 before being traded to the Yankees with Tino Martinez after the Mariners reached the 1995 AL championship series.
An offseason resident of the Seattle suburb of Issaquah, Nelson holds the Mariners record for most appearances by a pitcher with 383. In 2001, when the Mariners tied the major league record with 116 wins, Nelson pitched in his only All-Star game.
The Mets traded Benitez, 30, to the Yankees for right-hander Jason Anderson and minor league pitchers Anderson Garcia and Ryan Bicondoa.
Benitez was 3-3 with a 3.10 ERA in 45 games and 49 1/3 innings with the Mets this year. He pitched 9 1/3 innings for the Yankees.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.