View Full Version : Brewers trade Spivey for starting pitcher
<b>Club plans to call up Weeks from the minor leagues</b>
Philadelphia - The Milwaukee Brewers traded second baseman Junior Spivey to the Washington Nationals today for right-hander Tomo Ohka, paving the way for them to call up top prospect Rickie Weeks.
The Brewers announced the trade before their game against Philadelphia but did not make official the corresponding move of bringing up Weeks to play second base. Manager Ned Yost said he would have another announcement after the game.
With Weeks on an offensive tear at Class AAA Nashville, the Brewers were expected to deal Spivey at some point this season. That process was speeded up when the Nationals came after Spivey, having lost starting second baseman Jose Vidro and backup Jamey Carroll to ankle injuries.
Yost said Ohka, 29, would go into the rotation as the fifth starter and pitch Tuesday against Tampa Bay. The Brewers had been using right-hander Wes Obermueller in the fifth spot but he pitched badly in each of his last two outings.
Weeks, 22, the second player taken in the 2003 draft, has been an offensive dynamo at Nashville, batting .320 with 14 doubles, nine triples, 12 home runs and 48 runs batted in, in 55 games. He has had his problems in the field, however, especially in recent games, ballooning his error total to 10.
Yost said it is possible to help a young infielder improve defensively at the big-league level.
"He’s still struggling defensively," said Yost. "(Infield coach Rich) Dauer’s going to be after it every day."
Rookie shortstop J.J. Hardy has had problems at the plate, batting .182, but has committed only two errors. Yost said it is unusual for a rookie to come up and be so adept defensively from the outset.
"J.J. is an isolated case," said Yost. "Very few guys get here and are as polished as J.J. They all have to be polished. He still has a ways to go if you’re looking at Spivey-caliber defense."
Spivey, one of six players acquired from Arizona in the Richie Sexson trade before the 2004 season, left the club immediately to travel to Washington, where he was expected to play Friday night against Seattle. In 49 games, he was batting .236 with five home runs and 17 RBI, with 57 strikeouts and seven errors.
"Junior will definitely help (the Nationals)," said Yost. "He’s a good fit for them."
Because Bill Hall has played so well and merited more playing time, Yost won’t have to play two rookies in the middle infield every game. With Hall, Hardy and Weeks, he can alternate the three between the two positions.
Ohka is 37-47 with a 3.88 ERA in 134 major league appearances (124 starts). Pitching for Montreal in 2002, he won a career-best 13 games.
Ohka paved the way for his exodus from Washington with an on-field snub of manager Frank Robinson in a game Saturday against Florida. When Robinson came to remove him in the fourth inning, Ohka turned his back and made the manager grab the ball from him.
Ohka was fined by the club for "contempt" directed toward the manager. Yost said as far as he is concerned, however, Ohka has a clean slate with the Brewers.
"I’ve said it many times. I don’t worry about what goes on with a player before we get him," said Yost.
"I don’t know what problems he had there. I don’t pay attention to the Washington Nationals. If he’s got a problem, I’m sure there’s a reason for it. I don’t care about that."
<b><font size=4>Brewers acquire Ohka for Spivey</font>
Right-hander is 37-46 in seven Major League seasons</b>
PHILADELPHIA -- The Brewers solidified what has been a very tenuous fifth slot in their starting rotation by acquiring Tomo Ohka from the Nationals on Friday in exchange for infielder Junior Spivey, announced Brewers executive vice president and general manager Doug Melvin.
Ohka is expected to join the Brewers in Philadelphia on Saturday, said Milwaukee manager Ned Yost. Yost also stated that he would immediately insert Ohka, 29, in as the starter on Tuesday against Tampa Bay. Ohka was 4-3 with Washington, with a 3.33 ERA (20 earned runs/54 innings) in 10 games (nine starts) this season. He threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings of relief on May 17 against the Brewers in his lone appearance from the bullpen this season. He is currently in the midst of a three-game winning streak dating back to April 30.
Ohka holds a career 37-46 record, with a 3.88 ERA (310 earned runs/719 2/3 innings) in 134 appearances (124 starts). In 2002, Ohka collected a career-best 13 wins. He has won 10 or more games in a season twice in his career (both for Montreal).
"Tomo Ohka will be a great addition to our pitching staff," said Melvin. "We expect him to give us a proven starting pitcher to add to our rotation. Ohka throws strikes, and that fits into the style of our pitching coach, Mike Maddux."
Losing Spivey and optioning right-handed pitcher Gary Glover to Triple-A Nashville this weekend opens up a roster spot, starting speculation that the Brewers could bring up prized second base prospect Rickie Weeks from Nashville. Through 55 games this season for the Sounds, Weeks was hitting a team-high .320 among regulars, with 48 RBIs and 12 homers, also team highs.
All Yost would say is that the Brewers will reveal their roster moves after the first game of their weekend series in Philadelphia. But he did not rule out the possibility of bringing up the very talented Weeks.
"Right now, I can't answer that question [regarding] what we're going to do, but there is the possibility that anything can happen," Yost said. "[Weeks] is close [to being up with the Brewers], but he's still struggled a little defensively. Guys coming up have to be polished in some form or fashion. He still has a ways to go if you're looking at Spivey-caliber defense. Weeks is an awesome athlete, with a world of pressure on him. His focus is on offense, but some of that focus has to be on defense."
Yost said that acquiring Ohka will strengthen a staff that is already among the best in the National League, entering Friday night's game with a 3.72 team ERA, which is fourth in the NL.
"Ohka is a guy who has always pitched well; he's done it against Atlanta, he's done it against us," Yost said. "Junior will definitely help Washington. He's absolutely a good fit over there. But look at Ohka's numbers, they're very good. What I like about him is that he's a pitcher. He has a good command of his pitches, he changes speeds very well, he's a pitcher. He fills the fifth starter spot for us very well, and he's a consistent pitcher. Our first four starters have done very well for us. We needed one more consistent starter."
Ohka didn't leave the NL East-leading Nationals under the best circumstances. He was fined by Washington on Sunday for showing disrespect to manager Frank Robinson while being removed from the game the night before, on June 4, in a 7-3 victory over the Florida Marlins.
"He was disrespectful to me," Robinson said before Sunday's game against the Marlins. "He had his back to me. I put my hand out for the ball and he didn't give it to me."
In a statement released by the Nationals, team president Tony Tavares and interim general manager Jim Bowden said the fine was for "contempt" directed toward the manager. The amount of the fine was not disclosed.
"One thing you can't have on a Major League club is have a player show up a manager," Bowden said.
Whether or not Ohka could be a discipline problem didn't concern Yost.
"I have no idea what happened and I don't care," Yost said. "All I know is that [Ohka] is here."
A number of players said that Spivey, 30, will be missed. He hit .236 with five home runs and 17 runs batted in for Milwaukee this season in 49 games. He made 45 starts at second base for the Brewers.
Milwaukee, however, is excited to welcome its newest hurler aboard.
"Ohka gives you innings, and that's the biggest key for any fifth starter," Brewers reliever and resident elder statesman Ricky Bottalico said. "Our fifth spot has been tough this year. We just need someone to be consistent there, someone to give us innings. But we do lose a guy in Spivey at second who had tremendous range, and because he struggled a little early doesn't mean he still can't hit. I hope he does well in Washington."
"Junior Spivey has been a professional both on and off the field," said Melvin. "We feel that he will be a good addition to the Nationals and will help them in their pursuit of the NL East title."
<b><font size=4>Brewers acquire pitcher Tomo Ohka from Washington Nationals in exchange for infielder Junior Spivey</font></b>
PHILADELPHIA -- The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired pitcher Tomo Ohka from the Washington Nationals in exchange for infielder Junior Spivey, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager, Doug Melvin.
Ohka, 29, was 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA (20 er/54.0 ip) in 10 games, nine starts for Washington this season. He threw 5.2 scoreless innings in relief on May 17 vs Milwaukee in his lone appearance from the bullpen this season. He is currently in the midst of a three-game winning streak dating back to April 30.
He holds a career 37-47 mark alongside a 3.88 ERA (310 er/719.2 ip) in 134 appearances, 124 starts. In 2002, Ohka collected a career-best 13 wins. He has won 10-or-more games twice in his career (both for Montreal).
"Tomo Ohka will be a great addition to our pitching staff," said Melvin. "We expect him to give us a proven starting pitcher to add to our rotation. Ohka throws strikes and that fits into the style of our pitching coach Mike Maddux."
Ohka was originally signed by Boston after his contract was purchased from Yokohama of the Japanese Pacific League.
Spivey, 30, hit .236 with five home runs and 17 runs batted in for Milwaukee this season in 48 games. He made 45 starts at second base for the Brewers.
"Junior Spivey has been a professional both on and off the field," said Melvin. "We feel that he will be a good addition to the Nationals and will help them in their pursuit of the NL East title."
<b><font size=4>Nationals acquire second baseman Junior Spivey from Milwaukee in exchange for righthander Tomo Ohka</font></b>
The Washington Nationals today acquired second baseman Junior Spivey from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for right-handed pitcher Tomo Ohka. Nationals Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.
Spivey, who set career highs by hitting .301 with 16 home runs and 78 RBI in 2002 and earned a spot on the National League All-Star team, joins the Nationals after hitting .236 with five home runs and 17 RBI in 49 games for Milwaukee. Spivey, who brings additional post-season experience to the Nationals roster, is a career .308 hitter (139-for-452) against left-handed pitchers.
The 30-year-old is a career .272 hitter with 83 doubles, 46 home runs, 194 RBI and 30 stolen bases in 429 big league games spanning parts of five big league seasons with Arizona and Milwaukee.
Ohka, who was scheduled to start tonight's contest vs. Seattle, was 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 10 games (nine starts) for the Nationals this season.
<b><font size=4>Nationals acquire Spivey, Drese</font>
Ohka dealt to Brewers in exchange for second baseman</b>
WASHINGTON -- Right-hander Tomo Ohka received his wish and the Nationals got better at the same time as they traded Ohka to the Brewers for second baseman Junior Spivey on Friday. The Nationals also claimed right-handers Ryan Drese and Jacobo Sequea off waivers.
The Nationals have been looking for a middle infielder since second baseman Jose Vidro went on the disabled list in early May with a high left ankle sprain and torn peroneal tendon outside the ankle.
Trade discussions were in the works between the Nationals and Brewers for more than a week. Interim general manager Jim Bowden said the deal never would have happened if not for Brewers prospect Rickie Weeks, who is close to being ready for big league action.
At first, the Nationals were hoping they could coax Barry Larkin, the special assistant to the general manager, out of retirement. But according to a team source, Larkin told the team last week that he wasn't going to play and to try to get Spivey, who is making $2.2 million.
Spivey will be the everyday second baseman until Vidro returns after the All-Star break. Spivey was hitting .236 with five home runs and 17 RBIs in 49 games at the time of the trade. He best season was 2002 with the Diamondbacks, when hit .301 with 16 home runs and 78 RBIs. However, he has been injury-prone the last two seasons, spending time on the disabled list because of ankle, hamstring and shoulder problems.
The acquisition of Spivey means that Jamey Carroll and Carlos Baerga will return to their proper roles. Carroll will be a backup at second base, shortstop and third base, while Baerga will be strictly a pinch-hitter.
Carroll has seen the bulk of the playing time at second base. He hit .242 with six RBIs. Baerga also saw time at the position, but he doesn't have the range to play second base.
The move also gives manager Frank Robinson flexibility to bench Cristian Guzman for a couple of games if need be. Guzman has been hitting under .200 most of the season.
"Jamey Carroll and Carlos Baerga did a very good job filling in," Bowden said. "Frank hasn't been able to do some things that he would like to do, such as giving the guys the day off because of Jose's injury. Jamey was in there every day. So there's a hole that had to be fixed, and it was very difficult hole to fix. Infielders are tough to come by."
As for Ohka, he was in and out of the rotation. Ohka went to Robinson and Bowden on May 9 and told them he wanted to be traded after being demoted to the bullpen.
Ohka was back in the Nationals' rotation at the time of the trade. He was 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA, but the numbers are misleading. He had a tough time throwing strikes -- 27 walks in 54 innings -- and his velocity was down in the mid-80s. It prompted Robinson to believe that Ohka was injured, which Ohka denied.
To make matters worse, the relationship between Ohka and Robinson deteriorated and reached its boiling point last Saturday, when Ohka showed up Robinson. Ohka had his back turned as Robinson walked toward the mound to take the hurler out. Robinson then snatched the ball out of Ohka's hand.
Bowden said the incident did not hasten the trade.
"We are going to make moves to make this team better. I'm never going to make a move because of an incident," Bowden said. "I did not make this move to punish Tomo."
The Nationals are hoping that Drese, 29, can replace Ohka in the rotation. The Rangers designated Drese for assignment Wednesday after pitching 2 2/3 innings against the Phillies. In 12 starts, he was 4-6 with a 6.46 ERA.
Like Ohka, Drese had his share of controversy. On May 24, Drese and catcher Rod Barajas were involved in a scuffle over pitch selection.
Drese's best season was in 2004 when he went 14-10 with a 4.20 ERA for the Rangers, and the Nationals believe that he could return to that form again. Drese is a person the Nationals have been going after since the offseason.
If Drese can't do the job, the Nationals have not ruled out Sun-Woo Kim staying in the rotation. Kim started against the Mariners on Friday.
"His velocity is close, he is not hitting his spots. Ameriquest Field in Arlington has been a tough ballpark to pitch in," Bowden said of Drese. "We don't get Ryan Drese if he doesn't struggle. He's a great makeup guy. He is absolute competitor. We need to make some adjustments with him and get him back."
Sequea, 23, has posted 52 saves at three levels the last two-plus seasons in the Orioles system. Last season, while pitching for Bowie (Md.), Sequea led the Orioles' Minor League system and ranked second in the Double-A Eastern League with 27 saves. There, he recorded 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings en route to pacing the Eastern League in appearances.
The Nationals acquired Sequea on the recommendation of first-base coach Don Buford, who was the director of minor league operations for the Orioles.
When he was the Reds' GM in 1999, Bowden traded Sequea to the Orioles for Juan Guzman.
"He's a back-end bullpen guy. We are going to stockpile every arm we can. Our farm system has been pretty bare. You win with pitching and defense," Bowden said.
<b><font size=4>Nationals Trade Ohka for Spivey</font></b>
In the wake of an error by backup second baseman Carlos Baerga that nearly cost them their seventh straight victory, the Washington Nationals today traded pitcher Tomo Ohka to Milwaukee for second baseman Junior Spivey.
Spivey, a five-year veteran who is hitting .236 this year, will provide insurance for the Nationals while Jose Vidro, an all-star caliber second baseman, recovers from a badly sprained left ankle, which also has tendon damage. Vidro is expected to be out another month. In three seasons with Arizona and parts of two with the Brewers, Spivey, 30, hit .272 with a .355 on-base percentage.
Since Vidro was injured May 4, Jamey Carroll has played second base and performed well defensively. But Carroll has missed the past two games because of a sprained ankle, and although he said he is ready to return to the field, he was replaced by Baerga in the lineup last night. Baerga dropped a routine throw in the ninth inning that allowed the Oakland Athletics to climb within one run and left the potential winning run on second base. Chad Cordero eventually got the last out to ensure a win.
The Nationals were trying to make arrangements to get Spivey into town in time for tonight's 7:05 start, but plans weren't completed.
The trade of Ohka, who was scheduled to start tonight's game against the Seattle Mariners at RFK Stadium, shows that General Manager Jim Bowden -- who has repeatedly said this year, "You never have enough pitching" -- has confidence in the team's pitching staff. Ohka, who went 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA in nine starts and one relief appearance, has been unhappy with what he perceives as the team's lack of confidence in him. Last Saturday, he was fined $1,000 for turning his back on Manager Frank Robinson when Robinson removed him from a game in the fourth inning of what became a victory over the Florida Marlins.
Right-hander Sunny Kim will start in Ohka's place tonight and could remain in the rotation. But the Nationals also claimed two right-handed pitchers off waivers. Ryan Drese, 29, was the Opening Day starter for the Texas Rangers, and is 31-31 with a 5.36 ERA in parts of five major league seasons. He will join the Nationals Saturday.
The Nationals also claimed minor league reliever Jacobo Sequea from the Baltimore Orioles and optioned him to Class AA Harrisburg.
In other news, outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds, who was activated from the disabled list Thursday and sent to Class AAA New Orleans, opted to retire from baseball, ending a 13-year career that began when he was the top pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 1992. Hammonds, 34, spent time with five other organizations.
<b><font size=4>Nationals Send Ohka to Brewers for Spivey</font></b>
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Making clear they won't stand pat, the NL East-leading Washington Nationals acquired second baseman Junior Spivey from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for pitcher Tomo Ohka on Friday, and claimed right-hander Ryan Drese off waivers.
The trade for Spivey, a 2002 NL All-Star who fills a hole left by Jose Vidro's injury, hinged on the Nationals being able to replace Ohka. Drese was designated for assignment Wednesday by the Texas Rangers.
"Our feeling is that Drese could do what Ohka was doing, and we can solve our infield situation," Nationals general manager Jim Bowden said. "Every game's important. This is a race where we all see how close it is, and this makes us a better team today. It allows people to be in their right positions on the team."
Spivey took the train to Washington from Philadelphia, where the Brewers are playing, and arrived at RFK Stadium during the Nationals' game against Seattle. Spivey entered the game in the seventh inning as a pinch-runner and scored, then went out to play second base in the top of the eighth.
Washington entered Friday on a seven-game winning streak and 1 1/2 games ahead of Philadelphia in the tight NL East.
On a busy day, the Nationals also picked up right-handed reliever Jacobo Seuqea off waivers from the Orioles and optioned him to Double-A Harrisburg, while outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds announced his retirement after 13 major league seasons.
Drese is expected to join Washington on Saturday, when another roster move will be made - probably sending career minor leaguer Rick Short back to Triple-A New Orleans.
Spivey is batting .236 this season. He has a .272 career average with 46 homers and 194 RBIs in 429 games with Milwaukee and Arizona, but he's hit .308 against left-handers.
Vidro is expected out until the All-Star break with a partially torn tendon in his left ankle, and his backup, Jamey Carroll, missed the last two games with a sprained ankle.
Ohka, who asked for a trade last month, went 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA this season. He was fined after turning his back to Frank Robinson when the Nationals' manager went to the mound to pull Ohka in the fourth inning of his last start Saturday.
Ohka's was slated to start Friday, and Sun-woo Kim was picked to fill in against Seattle. Kim and Drese will get a shot at the fifth slot in the rotation, Robinson said.
Drese, 29, was the Rangers' opening day starter this season, but he went 4-6 with a 6.46 ERA. Last season, he went 14-10 with a 4.20 ERA.
Drese and teammate Rod Barajas scuffled in the dugout during a game May 24. Bowden said the Nationals looked into that and were assured that Drese is "a good team guy."
"His velocity and stuff is very close, but he's getting hit hard because he's not hitting his spots," Bowden said. "We don't get Ryan Drese if he's not struggling."
Brewers manager Ned Yost said Ohka will start at Tampa Bay on Tuesday.
"Ohka will be a great addition to our pitching staff," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said in Philadelphia. "We expect him to give us a proven starting pitcher to add to our rotation."
Ohka said he wished he had gotten a chance to pitch more innings, and he didn't like that he spent time in the bullpen.
"I didn't want to waste my time," Ohka said through a translator, Nationals strength coach Kazuhiko Tomooka.
Ohka is earning $2.75 million this season, Spivey $2,125,000, and Drese $400,000. Drese is under contract for $1.75 million in 2006, and there's a club option for $3 million in 2007.
"It wasn't about dollars," Bowden said, "but it does save us money on the bottom line."
<b><font size=4>Nationals acquire 2B Spivey in trade with Brewers</font></b>
WASHINGTON (Ticker) - The Washington Nationals are keeping busy in order to maintain their lead atop the National League East Division.
The Nationals acquired second baseman Junior Spivey from the Milwaukee Brewers for righthander Tomo Ohka, Washington general manager Jim Bowden announced on Friday.
With a 4-3 win over Oakland on Thursday, Washington captured its seventh consecutive win to maintain a 1 1/2-game lead over the equally hot Philadelphia Phillies. Both teams have won nine of their last 10 games.
With the trade for Spivey, the Nationals fill a hole at second base that has been present since Jose Vidro was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 9 with a partially torn tendon on the outside of his left ankle. Vidro, a three-time All-Star, is expected to remain out until mid-July.
Spivey, who was considered expendable in Milwaukee because of the emergence of prospect Rickie Weeks, has hit .236 with five home runs and 17 RBI in 49 games.
"Junior Spivey has been a professional both on and off the field," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said. "We feel that he will be a good addition to the Nationals and will help them in their pursuit of the NL East title."
Ohka, who was in his fifth year as a member of the team former known as the Montreal Expos, is 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 10 appearances - nine starts - this season. The 29-year-old should help bolster a Milwaukee staff that ranks fourth in the NL in ERA at 3.72.
"Tomo Ohka will be a great addition to our pitching staff," Melvin said. "We expect him to give us a proven starting pitcher to add to our rotation. Ohka throws strikes and that fits into the style of our pitching coach Mike Maddux."
In two other moves, the Nationals claimed righthanders Ryan Drese and Jacobo Sequea off waivers from Texas and Baltimore, respectively.
Drese, who was designated for assignment by the Rangers on June 8, is 4-6 with a 6.46 ERA in 12 starts this season. A groundball pitcher, Drese had a stellar year in 2004, collecting 14 wins in a career-high 207 2/3 innings.
Sequea, 23, subsequently was optioned to Class AA Harrisburg of the Eastern League. Over the last two-plus seasons in the Orioles system, Sequea has posted 52 saves, including 27 with Class AA Bowie last year.
<b><font size=4>Nationals trade RHP Ohka to Brewers for 2B Spivey</font></b>
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Making clear they won't stand pat, the NL East-leading Washington Nationals acquired second baseman Junior Spivey from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for pitcher Tomo Ohka on Friday, and claimed right-hander Ryan Drese off waivers.
The trade for Spivey, a 2002 NL All-Star who fills a hole left by Jose Vidro's injury, hinged on the Nationals being able to replace Ohka. Drese was designated for assignment Wednesday by the Texas Rangers.
``Our feeling is that Drese could do what Ohka was doing, and we can solve our infield situation,'' Nationals general manager Jim Bowden said. ``Every game's important. This is a race where we all see how close it is, and this makes us a better team today. It allows people to be in their right positions on the team.''
Spivey took the train to Washington from Philadelphia, where the Brewers are playing, and arrived at RFK Stadium during the Nationals' game against Seattle. Spivey entered the game in the seventh inning as a pinch-runner and scored, then went out to play second base in the top of the eighth.
Washington entered Friday on a seven-game winning streak and 1 1/2 games ahead of Philadelphia in the tight NL East.
On a busy day, the Nationals also picked up right-handed reliever Jacobo Seuqea off waivers from the Orioles and optioned him to Double-A Harrisburg, while outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds announced his retirement after 13 major league seasons.
Drese is expected to join Washington on Saturday, when another roster move will be made -- probably sending career minor leaguer Rick Short back to Triple-A New Orleans.
Spivey is batting .236 this season. He has a .272 career average with 46 homers and 194 RBIs in 429 games with Milwaukee and Arizona, but he's hit .308 against left-handers.
Vidro is expected out until the All-Star break with a partially torn tendon in his left ankle, and his backup, Jamey Carroll, missed the last two games with a sprained ankle.
Ohka, who asked for a trade last month, went 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA this season. He was fined after turning his back to Frank Robinson when the Nationals' manager went to the mound to pull Ohka in the fourth inning of his last start Saturday.
Ohka's was slated to start Friday, and Sun-woo Kim was picked to fill in against Seattle. Kim and Drese will get a shot at the fifth slot in the rotation, Robinson said.
Drese, 29, was the Rangers' opening day starter this season, but he went 4-6 with a 6.46 ERA. Last season, he went 14-10 with a 4.20 ERA.
Drese and teammate Rod Barajas scuffled in the dugout during a game May 24. Bowden said the Nationals looked into that and were assured that Drese is ``a good team guy.''
``His velocity and stuff is very close, but he's getting hit hard because he's not hitting his spots,'' Bowden said. ``We don't get Ryan Drese if he's not struggling.''
Brewers manager Ned Yost said Ohka will start at Tampa Bay on Tuesday.
``Ohka will be a great addition to our pitching staff,'' Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said in Philadelphia. ``We expect him to give us a proven starting pitcher to add to our rotation.''
Ohka said he wished he had gotten a chance to pitch more innings, and he didn't like that he spent time in the bullpen.
``I didn't want to waste my time,'' Ohka said through a translator, Nationals strength coach Kazuhiko Tomooka.
Ohka is earning $2.75 million this season, Spivey $2,125,000, and Drese $400,000. Drese is under contract for $1.75 million in 2006, and there's a club option for $3 million in 2007.
``It wasn't about dollars,'' Bowden said, ``but it does save us money on the bottom line.''
<b><font size=4>Spivey expected to fill void for injured Vidro</font></b>
WASHINGTON -- Making clear they won't stand pat, the NL East-leading Washington Nationals acquired second baseman Junior Spivey from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for pitcher Tomo Ohka on Friday, and claimed right-hander Ryan Drese off waivers.
The trade for Spivey, a 2002 NL All-Star who fills a hole left by Jose Vidro's injury, hinged on the Nationals being able to replace Ohka. Drese was designated for assignment Wednesday by the Texas Rangers.
"Our feeling is that Drese could do what Ohka was doing, and we can solve our infield situation," Nationals general manager Jim Bowden said. "Every game's important. This is a race where we all see how close it is, and this makes us a better team today. It allows people to be in their right positions on the team."
Spivey took the train to Washington from Philadelphia, where the Brewers are playing, but he did not make it to RFK Stadium before the start of the Nationals' game against Seattle.
Washington entered Friday on a seven-game winning streak and 1½ games ahead of Philadelphia in the tight NL East.
On a busy day, the Nationals also picked up right-handed reliever Jacobo Seuqea off waivers from the Orioles and optioned him to Double-A Harrisburg, while outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds announced his retirement after 13 major league seasons.
Drese is expected to join Washington on Saturday, when another roster move will be made -- probably sending career minor leaguer Rick Short back to Triple-A New Orleans.
Spivey is batting .236 this season. He has a .272 career average with 46 homers and 194 RBI in 429 games with Milwaukee and Arizona, but he's hit .308 against left-handers.
Vidro is expected out until the All-Star break with a partially torn tendon in his left ankle, and his backup, Jamey Carroll, missed the last two games with a sprained ankle.
Ohka, who asked for a trade last month, went 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA this season. He was fined after turning his back to Frank Robinson when the Nationals' manager went to the mound to pull Ohka in the fourth inning of his last start Saturday.
Ohka was slated to start Friday, and Sun-woo Kim was picked to fill in against Seattle. Kim and Drese will get a shot at the fifth slot in the rotation, Robinson said.
Drese, 29, was the Rangers' Opening Day starter this season, but he went 4-6 with a 6.46 ERA. Last season, he went 14-10 with a 4.20 ERA.
Drese and teammate Rod Barajas scuffled in the dugout during a game May 24. Bowden said the Nationals looked into that and were assured that Drese is "a good team guy."
"His velocity and stuff is very close, but he's getting hit hard because he's not hitting his spots," Bowden said. "We don't get Ryan Drese if he's not struggling."
Brewers manager Ned Yost said Ohka will start at Tampa Bay on Tuesday.
"Ohka will be a great addition to our pitching staff," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said in Philadelphia. "We expect him to give us a proven starting pitcher to add to our rotation."
Ohka said he wished he had gotten a chance to pitch more innings, and he didn't like that he spent time in the bullpen.
"I didn't want to waste my time," Ohka said through a translator, Nationals strength coach Kazuhiko Tomooka.
Ohka is earning $2.75 million this season, Spivey $2,125,000, and Drese $400,000. Drese is under contract for $1.75 million in 2006, and there's a club option for $3 million in 2007.
"It wasn't about dollars," Bowden said, "but it does save us money on the bottom line."
ESPN.com fantasy spin: Most fantasy owners expected Junior Spivey would be among the names moved at the trade deadline, but the Brewers moved quickly Friday, trading the second baseman to the Nationals in exchange for right-hander Tomo Ohka. Spivey's departure from Milwaukee now begs this question: Is the Rickie Weeks Era officially under way?
Weeks, the second player taken overall in the 2003 amateur draft, is batting .320, with nine triples, 12 home runs, 48 RBI (interesting stat: He's been hit by a pitch 14 times) and a 1.090 OPS in 55 games for Triple-A Nashville, far improved from the .259-8-42-.773 he had in Double A a year ago. He's a top prospect who could quickly become a top fantasy second baseman, and players with this kind of upside are always worth taking. Weeks should be promoted to take over the everyday job in the near future, making him worth the immediate addition. Even if he needs time to adapt to the major-league level, keep in mind the lack of depth at second base.
Spivey is a curious addition for the Nationals, who should get Jose Vidro back from an ankle injury around the All-Star break. Spivey's value doesn't change much -- he's an adequate NL-only second baseman or mixed league middle infielder -- but it's likely he'll become a part-timer once Vidro returns, unless he's moved again by July 31.
Ohka gets a fresh start in a new organization after a run-in with Nationals manager Frank Robinson, and he'll step right in for Wes Obermueller as the Brewers' fifth starter. Ohka's not a bad NL-only starter -- he has a 3.33 ERA and .224 batting average allowed in 10 games (nine starts) -- but the fact that he has 27 walks and 17 strikeouts demonstrates that he's hittable and best used when facing favorable matchups. Miller Park is actually a bit more hitter-friendly than RFK Stadium, so expect a slight decrease in overall value.
In Washington, Ryan Drese, who was just claimed off waivers, steps into Ohka's vacated rotation spot. Drese was hit hard in Texas after a solid 2004 season, but his 4.13 ERA, 1.313 WHIP and .270 batting average allowed in eight career interleague starts is an encouraging sign. Like Ohka, Drese could be a useful NL-only matchups option.
<b><font size=4>Distinguished Senators: The Trade</font></b>
The trade of Ohka for Spivey is a pain to analyze, since there are all kinds of hypotheticals and differing projections and that kind of nonsense to take into consideration.
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"The bull . . . flowed together to the ズ to this day." That was the reaction of the inscrutable, poorly-translated Japanese media to the news that Tomo "Landlord" Ohka was dealt to the Brewers in exchange for second baseman Junior Spivey, while the Nats also claimed pitcher Ryan Drese off waivers from Texas. The bull did indeed flow, and author Joseph Santoliquito is right to express doubt as to its end.
The trade is a pain to analyze, since there are all kinds of hypotheticals and differing projections and that kind of nonsense to take into consideration. I like the Endy Chavez/Marlon Byrd trade a lot better: it was obvious from the moment I heard about it that Jim Bowden had just done to the Phillies the equivalent of the thing where you have your friend get on all fours right behind some dude's legs and then push, and I've heard no one but Phillies fans say anything different.
It boils down to this: we gave up a solid starter having a rough year. Milwaukee gave up a second baseman with one really good season under his belt and that's about it. It's more complicated than that, of course. Ohka hasn't been right all year. After walking 1.5 dudes per 9 innings in 2002 and 1.6 and 1.7 the next two years, his BB rate shot up to 4.9 this year. His strikeouts have declined in the same time frame: from 5.1 per 9 in '02 and '03 to 3.6 in 2005 and 2.4 this year. However, he was hurt for most of 2004 after taking a line drive off his forearm. He had a rough start to this season, but seemed to be coming around before his infamous three inning, Frank-baiting turn against the Marlins, and his ERA was the best among a very capable group of Nats starters.
Ohka's been having a rough year, but Junior Spivey's been having a rough career. He didn't make the majors until he was 26, but had a really nifty All Star season in 2002: 865 OPS, 120 OPS+, 34 doubles, 16 homers. Since then, however, anything you say about Spivey can be preceded with the phrase "limited by injuries." Limited by injuries, he's played only 165 games over the last two years. Limited by injuries, his OPS+ was only 88 in 2003. Limited by injuries, he struck out 95 times in 106 games. Limited by injuries, he's stolen only 9 bases in two years. Etc, etc. With Jose Vidro out until the All Star break and no one in the middle infield hitting, we needed a stopgap. We don't need Spivey for long, so maybe the injuries won't matter. He'll certainly be an offensive improvement, doubly so if Guzman gets to catch some pine every now and then in favor of Jamey Carroll.
I don't think we got enough for Ohka. Good starting pitchers are worth more than middling second baseman. The argument in favor of the move is that Ohka is no longer a good starting pitcher. It's possible that his new, problematic strikeout and walk tendencies are permanent, his sub-4 ERA is an illusion, and that he'll turn into 2005-vintage Zach Day in Milwaukee. I doubt it, though. His crappy stats in 2004 came in only 84 innings and were surrounded by injuries. His even crappier 2005 is the product of only 54 innings, and it's also worth pointing out that he's had a solidly above-average ERA both years. It's far more likely that Ohka will regain his 2002-2003 form than that Spivey, who's hitting only 234/316/370 this year, becomes an all star once again. A trade like this would have made a lot more sense when the Nats had starting pitching depth. But Jon Rauch got hurt, Zach Day got everyone mad at him and then got hurt, and Claudio Vargas was so bad they fired him. We're relying on Ryan Drese, a reclamation project with a 5.36 ERA and 200 IP only once. Drese could certainly become a servicable starter. But the idea that he could replace Ohka is at least optimistic.
Mere performance, though, was the not the sole reason for the trade. On June 4 in a start against Florida, Ohka famously "showed up" Frank Robinson. After watching Ohka walk three in three innings and fall behind another hitter, Frank came out of the dugout to get him. Ohka turned his back on the manager, and Frank snatched the ball from his hand as though he were trying to prove to his kung-fu master that he had completed his training. I'm willing to defend Ohka in this incident. Frank yanked Ohka in the middle of an at-bat, something he's fond of doing and something that's unnecessarily humiliating for the pitcher. Yes, Ohka shouldn't have turned his back. But can't he be forgiven a slip-up in such a frustrating situation? I'd rather see a player enraged at his failure than cool with it. Similarly, I understand Frank's burst of anger in yanking the ball away from the pitcher. What I don't understand or condone is Frank's actions afterwards, as he continued to ***** about Ohka to the press.
"When I come to the mound, you're gone," Robinson said. "You're not going to talk me out of it. Give me the ball, leave the mound."
"He has this thing that goes back for years that I don't have confidence in him," Robinson said. "He just thinks I have something against him personally, I guess."
Robinson said he addressed the issue of respecting a manager in Spring Training, and doesn't want an incident to alter relationships with the rest of his players.
"It just sets a bad precedent," Robinson said. "The chemistry should be sky high right now on this ballclub -- and it is. But one person can damage that chemistry to a point where it hurts the team."
I've got no problem with the fine had to pay, and I know it's important to maintain discipline in the clubhouse. But why get the press involved? Why denigrate one of your own players in public? It's not an isolated incident, either. Frank's been less than reticent when pitchers displease him, and Jim Bowden isn't afraid to take a smirking shot at someone on his way out (On Endy: "When Chavez learned he was being sent down, he told Bowden, 'Trade me.' 'Other clubs view you the same way we do,' Bowden said he told Chavez, meaning he wasn't worth much in a trade." On Ohka: "We certainly don’t want any player who has a problem playing for a first place club. I’m sure he’ll be happy in Milwaukee."). It appears that our team is in the hands of some less than classy people.
And that brings me to my final point (I promise). When Inning-Endy was sent down, I compared to him an assassinated emperor: "now that he's gone, people are lining up to sing the praises of his successor and assure everyone that they always hated that last guy." It's even more pronounced this time. Suddenly everyone hates Tomo: he had what's coming to him, the disrespectful jackass. Ron Darling's performance before Friday's game was shameful. He gleefully recounted the back-turning incident before exclaiming, "You're outta here!" Look, we don't know the whole story, but we can gather from Frank's comments that there's been tension between him and Ohka for some time. Why do we assume that Ohka is the jerk here? Is it because Frank's the manager, as though that makes him infallible? Is it because Ohka's said next to nothing while Frank has mouthed off repeatedly? Is it resentment that Tomo's baneful influence on team chemistry kept us to only eight games over .500? If you're quick to condemn Ohka for not getting along with his manager but ready to absolve Jose Guillen of any act of violence against his, you may want to consider whether your judgments are based on the personalities involved or on the letters on their caps.
<b><font size=4>Brewers get pitcher in trade</font></b>
WASHINGTON — The Milwaukee Brewers acquired right-hander Tomo Ohka from the Washington Nationals for second baseman Junior Spivey on Friday.
Ohka, 29, is 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA this season. He was fined after turning his back to Frank Robinson when the Nationals’ manager went to the mound to pull Ohka in the fourth inning of his last start.
“Ohka will be a great addition to our pitching staff,” Brewers General Manager Doug Melvin said before Milwaukee’s game against the Phillies. “We expect him to give us a proven starting pitcher to add to our rotation. Ohka throws strikes, and that fits into the style of our pitching coach Mike Maddux.”
Brewers manager Ned Yost said Ohka will start at Tampa Bay on Tuesday.
The move clears the way for prospect Rickie Weeks to be called up from Class AAA Nashville. Weeks’ Web site stated he had been called up, but no official word came from the Brewers.
Spivey, a 2002 NL All-Star, will fill a hole left by injured second baseman Jose Vidro.
Spivey is batting .236 this season. He has a .272 career average with 46 homers and 194 RBIs in 429 games with Milwaukee and Arizona, but he’s hit .308 against left-handers.
Spivey, 30, set career highs by hitting .301 with 16 homers and 78 RBIs in 2002.
The Nationals also picked up two right-handers off waivers Friday, Ryan Drese from the Texas Rangers and Jacobo Seuqea from the Baltimore Orioles.
The trade for Spivey hinged on the Nationals being able to replace Ohka. They did so by claiming Drese.
Vidro is expected to be out until the All-Star break with a partially torn tendon in his left ankle.
Ohka is earning $2.75 million this season, Spivey $2,125,000, and Drese $400,000. Drese is under contract for $1.75 million in 2006.
The Brewers also optioned outfielder Dave Krynzel to Class AAA Nashville after their game Friday against Philadelphia.
Also, Nationals veteran outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds announced his retirement.
Drese will join the Nationals on Saturday, while Seuqea was optioned to Class AA Harrisburg.
Drese, 29, was the Rangers’ opening day starter this season, but he went 4-6 with a 6.46 ERA, and the team designated him for assignment Wednesday. Last season, he went 14-10 with a 4.20 ERA.
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