Hobosox
03-23-2005, 01:48 AM
Outfielder Hyzdu traded to San Diego for RHP Neal
By HOWARD ULMAN, AP Sports Writer
March 22, 2005
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- The Boston Red Sox traded outfielder Adam Hyzdu to the San Diego Padres for right-handed reliever Blaine Neal on Tuesday.
Hyzdu, a long shot to make Boston's regular-season roster, played 17 games with the World Series champions last season and had three hits in 10 at-bats. He spent parts of the previous four seasons with Pittsburgh, playing in 173 games. He has 19 homers, 57 RBIs and a .233 batting average in 190 career major league games.
The 33-year-old Hyzdu was behind Red Sox outfielders Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, Trot Nixon and Jay Payton. First baseman Kevin Millar and Dave McCarty also can play the outfield.
``His skill set is somewhat redundant with Jay Payton's at this point so it was going to be difficult for him to make the club or have a real role on this club until we had an injury,'' Boston general manager Theo Epstein said of Hyzdu.
The 25-year-old Neal pitched a career-high 40 games last season with San Diego and went 1-1 with a 4.07 ERA but was in a competition with several others for the final spot on the pitching staff. He spent the previous three seasons with Florida, and compiled a 3-0 record in 54 total appearances. He has a career ERA of 4.61.
Neal throws at 94 mph, with a good slider and a sinking fastball.
``It's a good package to work with,'' Epstein said. ``It looked like he started to put it all together last year. He's been a longtime prospect and may have finally started to click last season.''
Neal is out of options so the Red Sox would have to keep him on their major-league roster or place him on waivers where he could be claimed by another team.
By HOWARD ULMAN, AP Sports Writer
March 22, 2005
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- The Boston Red Sox traded outfielder Adam Hyzdu to the San Diego Padres for right-handed reliever Blaine Neal on Tuesday.
Hyzdu, a long shot to make Boston's regular-season roster, played 17 games with the World Series champions last season and had three hits in 10 at-bats. He spent parts of the previous four seasons with Pittsburgh, playing in 173 games. He has 19 homers, 57 RBIs and a .233 batting average in 190 career major league games.
The 33-year-old Hyzdu was behind Red Sox outfielders Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, Trot Nixon and Jay Payton. First baseman Kevin Millar and Dave McCarty also can play the outfield.
``His skill set is somewhat redundant with Jay Payton's at this point so it was going to be difficult for him to make the club or have a real role on this club until we had an injury,'' Boston general manager Theo Epstein said of Hyzdu.
The 25-year-old Neal pitched a career-high 40 games last season with San Diego and went 1-1 with a 4.07 ERA but was in a competition with several others for the final spot on the pitching staff. He spent the previous three seasons with Florida, and compiled a 3-0 record in 54 total appearances. He has a career ERA of 4.61.
Neal throws at 94 mph, with a good slider and a sinking fastball.
``It's a good package to work with,'' Epstein said. ``It looked like he started to put it all together last year. He's been a longtime prospect and may have finally started to click last season.''
Neal is out of options so the Red Sox would have to keep him on their major-league roster or place him on waivers where he could be claimed by another team.