Yankees Get Reds' Boone, Trade Ventura
By BEN WALKER
AP Sports Writer
customwire.ap.org
Gabe White was in the Cincinnati clubhouse when he heard the news. He'd become the latest Reds player to be traded, and he, too, was headed to the New York Yankees.
"This is an opportunity to go to the greatest team ever," the reliever said. "If you ask anybody who they'd like to play for, they'd tell you the Yankees. It's unbelievable."
The Yankees also got All-Star third baseman Aaron Boone from the Reds on Thursday, prompting the AL East leaders to trade third baseman Robin Ventura to Los Angeles.
While the Yankees and Boston Red Sox escalated their arms race with a flurry of trades, the San Francisco Giants made the biggest deal of the day in getting Baltimore ace Sidney Ponson.
"It's one of the tougher ones I've had to do because I like Sidney a lot," said Baltimore manager Mike Hargrove, who told Ponson of the move.
"I've got a job to do, and that's part of it. I've got a special feeling for Sidney, and I will in 20 years - unless he blows up my house or something," he kidded.
In all, there were six trades before baseball's 4 p.m. EDT deadline for deals without waivers. From now on, it becomes more tricky to make trades before the Aug. 31 deadline to be eligible for postseason play.
The Red Sox got pitcher Jeff Suppan from Pittsburgh and AL Central-leading Kansas City got Tampa Bay's best reliever, Al Levine.
The Giants made a bold move, giving up pitcher Damian Moss, righty prospect Kurt Ainsworth and minor league lefty Ryan Hannaman for Ponson, who was 14-6 with a 3.77 ERA for Baltimore this season. He was one victory behind AL wins leader Roy Halladay of Toronto.
Ponson goes from a team struggling to reach .500 to a club with a 12-game lead in the NL West.
"Hopefully, I'll be in the World Series with them this year," Ponson said.
Ponson turned down a $15 million, three-year contract extension from the Orioles on July 19 and the sides had continued to talk without reaching an agreement. He is eligible for free agency this winter.
"It wasn't a surprise I was getting traded," Ponson said. "The Giants are a really good baseball team. I'm looking forward to meeting these guys, and I'm going to do everything in my power to help my new team win it all."
The Yankees made a pair of trades with the Reds. They got Boone, whose father was fired three days earlier as Cincinnati's manager, for promising left-hander Brandon Claussen and $1 million.
Boone expects to join the Yankees for their game Friday night at Oakland. There had been rumors he might get traded to Seattle - where brother Bret plays - or the Dodgers.
"The fact that it's the Yankees is awesome," he said.
Boone, 30, was hitting .273 with 18 home runs and a team-high 65 RBIs this season. He also led the Reds with 15 stolen bases.
After getting Boone, the Yankees sent Ventura to Los Angeles for outfielder Bubba Crosby and right-handed pitcher Scott Proctor.
New York got White for a player to be named. He was 3-0 with 3.93 ERA in 34 relief appearances, and has been on the disabled list since June 25 because of a strained left groin. The Yankees hope to have him back in three weeks.
"That's the thing about this organization. No matter how good you're playing, you're always trying to get better," Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter said. "We want to improve. Not every team can say that."
Cincinnati fired manager Bob Boone and general manager Jim Bowden on Monday. Since then, the Reds traded closer Scott Williamson to Boston and productive outfielder Jose Guillen to Oakland.
"They've had a change of direction," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "All of baseball reacted to that. When the Reds' situation changed, it created a whole new market."
While the first-place Yankees have recently added relievers Armando Benitez, Jesse Orosco and White, the Red Sox have traded for pitchers Byung-Hyun Kim, Scott Sauerbeck, Williamson and Suppan.
In a reworking of a July 22 trade, Pittsburgh sent Suppan, right-hander Brandon Lyon and minor league pitcher Anatascio Martinez to Boston for infield prospect Freddy Sanchez, minor league left-hander Mike Gonzalez and cash.
Suppan spent most of his career in the AL before signing with Pittsburgh, going 48-57 with the Red Sox and Royals. He is 10-7 with a 3.57 ERA this season, with three complete games and two shutouts during his current five-game winning streak.
"When I left (Pittsburgh), I told him I'd probably see him in a few weeks," Sauerbeck said. "Now it's true."
Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said it seemed only teams with money were able to make trades.
"It sounds like it's a repeat of the '50s where the Yankees used to go to the Kansas City A's and take their players and give them money so they could survive," Ricciardi said.
The Dodgers are desperate to score runs and hope Ventura can help. He turned 36 in July and was batting .251 with nine home runs and 42 RBIs.
Dodgers manager Jim Tracy plans to use Ventura more at first base because Fred McGriff is out with a knee injury.
Ventura has not played first base this season, and has not started at the position since Sept. 2, 1996, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Said Ventura: "That's fine, I've played there before. I'll go and do anything they want."
"He's a Gold Glove-caliber infielder whose offensive production should add a boost to our lineup," Dodgers general manager Dan Evans said.
Levine, 35, was 3-5 with a 2.90 ERA in 36 games with the last-place Devil Rays. The Royals got him for cash.
"It's exciting. That's what you play for," the right-hander said. "I'm happy to go, but I'm leaving a good group of guys. I'm very surprised." |
