Tigers#1
06-14-2002, 06:29 PM
CINCINNATI -- Left-hander Bruce Chen was traded Friday from the Montreal Expos to the Cincinnati Reds, going from a team with an uncertain future to one looking to add pitchers for a playoff run.
The Reds gave up right-hander Jim Brower, who went 2-0 with a 3.89 ERA in 22 relief appearances this season. The Reds tried Brower as a starter last season, but he struggled and was moved back to the long-relief role.
Chen, 25, will join baseball's most surprising team. The Reds have been in first place in the NL Central for 49 consecutive days and think they can stay in contention -- if they can get more starting pitching.
"We're thinking of Chen as a starter,'' manager Bob Boone said. "Most of the success he's had has been as a starter. We've been looking for a fifth starter.''
Chen began the season with the New York Mets and made one relief appearance before he was traded to the Expos on April 5 as part of a seven-player deal.
The Expos were in Cincinnati for a series when they got Chen, who was projected as one of their starters. It didn't work out that way -- he made five starts and 10 relief appearances for Montreal, going 2-3 with a 6.99 ERA.
The tight-budget Reds have been looking to upgrade their rotation since spring training, when non-roster right-handers Jimmy Haynes and Joey Hamilton pitched their way onto the staff.
Hamilton has been hit hard since he returned from a torn hamstring, and 37-year-old Jose Rijo went on the disabled list a week ago with a tired shoulder. The situation was so desperate that the Reds let reliever Carlos Almanzar make his first major league start Monday in Texas.
Almanzar tried to catch a grounder with his bare hand in the first inning of the game and broke his finger, putting him on the disabled list.
The Reds gave up right-hander Jim Brower, who went 2-0 with a 3.89 ERA in 22 relief appearances this season. The Reds tried Brower as a starter last season, but he struggled and was moved back to the long-relief role.
Chen, 25, will join baseball's most surprising team. The Reds have been in first place in the NL Central for 49 consecutive days and think they can stay in contention -- if they can get more starting pitching.
"We're thinking of Chen as a starter,'' manager Bob Boone said. "Most of the success he's had has been as a starter. We've been looking for a fifth starter.''
Chen began the season with the New York Mets and made one relief appearance before he was traded to the Expos on April 5 as part of a seven-player deal.
The Expos were in Cincinnati for a series when they got Chen, who was projected as one of their starters. It didn't work out that way -- he made five starts and 10 relief appearances for Montreal, going 2-3 with a 6.99 ERA.
The tight-budget Reds have been looking to upgrade their rotation since spring training, when non-roster right-handers Jimmy Haynes and Joey Hamilton pitched their way onto the staff.
Hamilton has been hit hard since he returned from a torn hamstring, and 37-year-old Jose Rijo went on the disabled list a week ago with a tired shoulder. The situation was so desperate that the Reds let reliever Carlos Almanzar make his first major league start Monday in Texas.
Almanzar tried to catch a grounder with his bare hand in the first inning of the game and broke his finger, putting him on the disabled list.