GaryMrMets
07-31-2005, 09:17 PM
http://www.msgnetwork.com/content_news.jsp?articleID=v431907-31-05-1836EDT&docType=news&sports=baseball&league=mlb&team=other&newsgroup=baseball.mlb.news/other
Marlins acquire Ron Villone from Seattle for two minor leaguers
Jul 31, 2005
MIAMI (AP) - Parting ways with A.J. Burnett or Mike Lowell would likely have been viewed as signs of surrender by the Florida Marlins.
Instead, the Marlins bolstered their bullpen Sunday - an effort to get stronger for the stretch run.
Florida acquired left-handed reliever Ron Villone from Seattle in exchange for minor league pitchers Yorman Bazardo and Mike Flannery, shortly before baseball's deadline for non-waiver trades expired.
"I don't know what to feel except it's kind of odd," Villone said. "At the same time, I think I'm going somewhere with a chance to win."
Villone is expected to join his new club in St. Louis on Monday, when Florida opens a nine-game road trip.
"Anytime you get a lefty, it kind of fires you up as a player because the organization thinks you're close," Marlins closer Todd Jones said. "You don't make moves like that in anticipation of finishing second or third in the division. So now it's up to us to go out there and get it done."
After Sunday's 4-2 loss to Washington, Florida is 6 1/2 games behind Atlanta in the NL East and 2 1/2 games behind Houston in the wild-card race.
Villone was 2-3 with one save and a 2.45 ERA in 52 appearances this season with the Mariners. Florida will be the 35-year-old Villone's ninth team in 11 major league seasons.
"He fits for us right now," Marlins general manager Larry Beinfest said. "He just adds veteran experience that's versatile, and he can do a bunch of different things."
Beinfest is familiar with Villone from his time in the Mariners' front office. And Marlins manager Jack McKeon used Villone as a starter during the 1999 and 2000 seasons with Cincinnati; Villone was 19-17 with a 4.83 ERA in those two years.
"He's familiar with me and knows what I can do to help the ballclub," Villone said.
It's the third straight year that the Marlins have made a deal in an effort to get stronger as the trade deadline approached. They acquired reliever Ugueth Urbina in 2003 - and he played a big role in helping Florida win its second World Series in seven years. Last year, Florida obtained Paul Lo Duca, Juan Encarnacion and Guillermo Mota from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Brad Penny, Hee-Seop Choi and a minor leaguer.
Beinfest said the team knew more than a week ago that it was not trading away any of its integral players - a group that includes Burnett, a free agent in waiting who was rumored to be in several prospective deals, and Lowell - who's hitting .244 this season.
Instead, the team looked for bullpen depth - and found it in Villone. Left-handers are hitting .213 this season off Villone, who's allowed one earned run in his last 19 appearances.
"We thought adding another arm really made sense," Beinfest said, noting that the bullpen also got stronger in recent days with the return of Antonio Alfonseca from the disabled list.
Lowell seemed relieved that the deadline passed without any virtual shakeup to the Marlins' clubhouse. The team optioned reliever John Riedling to Triple-A Albuquerque to make room for Villone.
"I love playing here," Lowell said. "I grew up here in Miami. I have all the conveniences in the world. But if I was sent somewhere else, I'd play hard and I'd love baseball. This season, baseball has tried to make me hate it - but I enjoy it too much, enjoy the game too much."
Bazardo, 21, was 8-6 with a 3.79 ERA in 18 starts for Florida's Double-A affiliate in Carolina this season. Flannery, 23, was 2-3 with 13 saves and a 3.27 ERA in 44 appearances between Carolina and Triple-A Albuquerque this year.
Seattle - the only sub-.500 team in the AL West - also sent catcher Miguel Olivo to San Diego on Saturday in exchange for right-hander Nate Mateo and catcher Miguel Ojeda, who were both minor leaguers. The team also traded outfielder Randy Winn to San Francisco on Saturday for catcher Yorvit Torrealba and right-hander Jesse Foppert.
"We've been able to get four good young arms, improve our catching and open up some spots," Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi said.
Marlins acquire Ron Villone from Seattle for two minor leaguers
Jul 31, 2005
MIAMI (AP) - Parting ways with A.J. Burnett or Mike Lowell would likely have been viewed as signs of surrender by the Florida Marlins.
Instead, the Marlins bolstered their bullpen Sunday - an effort to get stronger for the stretch run.
Florida acquired left-handed reliever Ron Villone from Seattle in exchange for minor league pitchers Yorman Bazardo and Mike Flannery, shortly before baseball's deadline for non-waiver trades expired.
"I don't know what to feel except it's kind of odd," Villone said. "At the same time, I think I'm going somewhere with a chance to win."
Villone is expected to join his new club in St. Louis on Monday, when Florida opens a nine-game road trip.
"Anytime you get a lefty, it kind of fires you up as a player because the organization thinks you're close," Marlins closer Todd Jones said. "You don't make moves like that in anticipation of finishing second or third in the division. So now it's up to us to go out there and get it done."
After Sunday's 4-2 loss to Washington, Florida is 6 1/2 games behind Atlanta in the NL East and 2 1/2 games behind Houston in the wild-card race.
Villone was 2-3 with one save and a 2.45 ERA in 52 appearances this season with the Mariners. Florida will be the 35-year-old Villone's ninth team in 11 major league seasons.
"He fits for us right now," Marlins general manager Larry Beinfest said. "He just adds veteran experience that's versatile, and he can do a bunch of different things."
Beinfest is familiar with Villone from his time in the Mariners' front office. And Marlins manager Jack McKeon used Villone as a starter during the 1999 and 2000 seasons with Cincinnati; Villone was 19-17 with a 4.83 ERA in those two years.
"He's familiar with me and knows what I can do to help the ballclub," Villone said.
It's the third straight year that the Marlins have made a deal in an effort to get stronger as the trade deadline approached. They acquired reliever Ugueth Urbina in 2003 - and he played a big role in helping Florida win its second World Series in seven years. Last year, Florida obtained Paul Lo Duca, Juan Encarnacion and Guillermo Mota from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Brad Penny, Hee-Seop Choi and a minor leaguer.
Beinfest said the team knew more than a week ago that it was not trading away any of its integral players - a group that includes Burnett, a free agent in waiting who was rumored to be in several prospective deals, and Lowell - who's hitting .244 this season.
Instead, the team looked for bullpen depth - and found it in Villone. Left-handers are hitting .213 this season off Villone, who's allowed one earned run in his last 19 appearances.
"We thought adding another arm really made sense," Beinfest said, noting that the bullpen also got stronger in recent days with the return of Antonio Alfonseca from the disabled list.
Lowell seemed relieved that the deadline passed without any virtual shakeup to the Marlins' clubhouse. The team optioned reliever John Riedling to Triple-A Albuquerque to make room for Villone.
"I love playing here," Lowell said. "I grew up here in Miami. I have all the conveniences in the world. But if I was sent somewhere else, I'd play hard and I'd love baseball. This season, baseball has tried to make me hate it - but I enjoy it too much, enjoy the game too much."
Bazardo, 21, was 8-6 with a 3.79 ERA in 18 starts for Florida's Double-A affiliate in Carolina this season. Flannery, 23, was 2-3 with 13 saves and a 3.27 ERA in 44 appearances between Carolina and Triple-A Albuquerque this year.
Seattle - the only sub-.500 team in the AL West - also sent catcher Miguel Olivo to San Diego on Saturday in exchange for right-hander Nate Mateo and catcher Miguel Ojeda, who were both minor leaguers. The team also traded outfielder Randy Winn to San Francisco on Saturday for catcher Yorvit Torrealba and right-hander Jesse Foppert.
"We've been able to get four good young arms, improve our catching and open up some spots," Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi said.