Baseball Guru
01-27-2002, 05:12 AM
By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer
January 25, 2002, 7:39 PM EST
SEATTLE -- David Bell is an everyday third baseman once again.
Bell, out of a job with the Seattle Mariners, was traded to the San Francisco Giants on Friday for infielder Desi Relaford and cash.
The Mariners didn't have a place for Bell after acquiring third baseman Jeff Cirillo from Colorado in a trade last month.
"There's no question I wanted to go somewhere where I'm comfortable and can contribute to a winning team," Bell said. "It worked out perfectly as far as I'm concerned."
The Giants didn't have a regular third baseman last year after trading Bill Mueller to the Cubs in the offseason. San Francisco tried Russ Davis at third along with Ramon Martinez.
Bell hit .260 last year with 15 home runs and 64 RBIs.
"The opportunity to get David at this time of the year is a godsend," Giants general manager Brian Sabean said. "He's a player still on the rise. His defense speaks for itself. He's been on a team that's gone to the ALCS the last two years and that's a great chip to have on our ballclub."
Bell, 29, became a free agent after the season, then accepted a salary arbitration offer from the Mariners last month. He told the team he wanted to play every day, and Seattle said it would try to swap him to a club where he would have that opportunity.
Bell, who made $2.2 million last season, and the Giants agreed to a one-year contract with an option, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing.
He is guaranteed $2.25 million and will make $1.75 million this year with a mutual option of $3.5 million. He has a $500,000 buyout clause and $500,000 in performance bonuses, including $100,000 each for 300, 350, 400 and 450 plate appearances.
"David was an important part of the ballclub the past few years," said Lee Pelekoudas, the Mariners' vice president for baseball administration. "When he accepted arbitration, it was a time when (second baseman Bret) Boone had accepted and we had already signed Cirillo, so there was no place for him to play here.
"All parties recognized that the logical thing was to find David a home. We're happy to be able to accommodate him, and the Giants are happy to have an everyday third baseman."
Playing for the Giants was Bell's first choice from the beginning, said his agent, Joe Bick, and San Francisco was interested "but was paralyzed by the (Barry) Bonds situation."
"They were the first team I asked about," Bell said from Cincinnati. "I had a good feeling and thought it would be a good fit. Fortunately, it worked out today. I've heard a lot about the team, the players, the manager and the organization from other guys around the league."
Relaford, who has played six years in the majors and was originally drafted by Seattle, agreed Jan. 11 to a one-year contract worth $1,275,000 with the Giants. He was acquired from the New York Mets with outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo last month for left-handed pitcher Shawn Estes.
Relaford, 28, hit .302 with 27 doubles, eight homers and 36 RBIs in 120 games for New York last season. He also has played for Philadelphia and San Diego.
"Desi gives us a lot of options off the bench," Pelekoudas said. "He can play all three infield positions and he's a switch hitter who can run."
The Mariners had been talking to the Giants "for quite some time," Pelekoudas said.
Relaford was drafted by the Mariners in 1991 and played in their farm system before being traded to Philadelphia on July 31, 1996.
Copyright © 2002, The Associated Press
AP Sports Writer
January 25, 2002, 7:39 PM EST
SEATTLE -- David Bell is an everyday third baseman once again.
Bell, out of a job with the Seattle Mariners, was traded to the San Francisco Giants on Friday for infielder Desi Relaford and cash.
The Mariners didn't have a place for Bell after acquiring third baseman Jeff Cirillo from Colorado in a trade last month.
"There's no question I wanted to go somewhere where I'm comfortable and can contribute to a winning team," Bell said. "It worked out perfectly as far as I'm concerned."
The Giants didn't have a regular third baseman last year after trading Bill Mueller to the Cubs in the offseason. San Francisco tried Russ Davis at third along with Ramon Martinez.
Bell hit .260 last year with 15 home runs and 64 RBIs.
"The opportunity to get David at this time of the year is a godsend," Giants general manager Brian Sabean said. "He's a player still on the rise. His defense speaks for itself. He's been on a team that's gone to the ALCS the last two years and that's a great chip to have on our ballclub."
Bell, 29, became a free agent after the season, then accepted a salary arbitration offer from the Mariners last month. He told the team he wanted to play every day, and Seattle said it would try to swap him to a club where he would have that opportunity.
Bell, who made $2.2 million last season, and the Giants agreed to a one-year contract with an option, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing.
He is guaranteed $2.25 million and will make $1.75 million this year with a mutual option of $3.5 million. He has a $500,000 buyout clause and $500,000 in performance bonuses, including $100,000 each for 300, 350, 400 and 450 plate appearances.
"David was an important part of the ballclub the past few years," said Lee Pelekoudas, the Mariners' vice president for baseball administration. "When he accepted arbitration, it was a time when (second baseman Bret) Boone had accepted and we had already signed Cirillo, so there was no place for him to play here.
"All parties recognized that the logical thing was to find David a home. We're happy to be able to accommodate him, and the Giants are happy to have an everyday third baseman."
Playing for the Giants was Bell's first choice from the beginning, said his agent, Joe Bick, and San Francisco was interested "but was paralyzed by the (Barry) Bonds situation."
"They were the first team I asked about," Bell said from Cincinnati. "I had a good feeling and thought it would be a good fit. Fortunately, it worked out today. I've heard a lot about the team, the players, the manager and the organization from other guys around the league."
Relaford, who has played six years in the majors and was originally drafted by Seattle, agreed Jan. 11 to a one-year contract worth $1,275,000 with the Giants. He was acquired from the New York Mets with outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo last month for left-handed pitcher Shawn Estes.
Relaford, 28, hit .302 with 27 doubles, eight homers and 36 RBIs in 120 games for New York last season. He also has played for Philadelphia and San Diego.
"Desi gives us a lot of options off the bench," Pelekoudas said. "He can play all three infield positions and he's a switch hitter who can run."
The Mariners had been talking to the Giants "for quite some time," Pelekoudas said.
Relaford was drafted by the Mariners in 1991 and played in their farm system before being traded to Philadelphia on July 31, 1996.
Copyright © 2002, The Associated Press