DODGERS DEAL MLICKI AND ROJAS.Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer The Dodgers swapped the insurance of having a sixth starting pitcher Noun 1. starting pitcher - (baseball) a pitcher who starts in a baseball game baseball, baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played baseball in high school"; for flexibility in the bullpen in a salary-dumping trade of pitchers Dave Mlicki David John Mlicki (born June 8 1968 in Cleveland, Ohio) is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. After attending Oklahoma State University he was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 17th round of the 1990 amateur draft. and Mel Rojas Right-hander Robinson Checo Robinson (Pérez) Checo (born September 9, 1971 in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic) is a former pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1997 through 1999. He batted and threw right handed. , 27, joined the Dodgers from Detroit's Triple-A affiliate. General manager Kevin Malone
Kevin Malone is a fictional character from the US television series, The Office. He is played by Brian Baumgartner. said the Dodgers also strengthened their farm system by acquiring right-handed pitcher Noun 1. right-handed pitcher - (baseball) a pitcher who throws with the right hand right-hander baseball, baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played Apostol Garcia, 22, and left-hander Richard Roberts Richard Roberts may refer to:
The deal was made possible because the Dodgers activated right-handed reliever Antonio Osuna Antonio Pedro Osuna (born April 12, 1973 in Sinaloa, Mexico) is a former major league relief pitcher. He batted right and threw right. Antonio weighs 225 pounds and is 5 feet 10 inches tall. from the disabled list before Friday's game with the San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. Padres. ``(Salary) was part of the equation, but it wasn't an important piece of the puzzle,'' Malone said. ``We added two power arms (Checo and Osuna) and made the club better. It helps the Dodgers now and we put prospects into the system.'' None of the players were listed on Baseball America's top-10-prospects list in the Tigers' farm system, but Malone said Dodger scouts graded each of the players in the top 11 of Detroit's minor-league system. Having not seen either Checo or Osuna in game action, Johnson said it'll take time for their roles to be defined. ``If (Mlicki) could have gone every other day, I don't make this deal. But he can't,'' Johnson said. ``If (Osuna) he throws that 95 mph gas, that big slurve and the great change, I'll find a spot for him.'' Mlicki was 7-3 with a 4.05 ERA as a starter after being acquired by the Dodgers in a June trade with the Mets, but he was expendable after the Dodgers signed Kevin Brown The name Kevin Brown can refer to several different people, including the following:
As a sixth starter, Mlicki, 30, was an insurance policy for the Dodgers. He was the Dodgers' long reliever and emergency starter. Malone said Checo, 1-3 with a 5.57 ERA in seven major-league appearances, could fill that void. If not, the Dodgers might have to dip into the minor leagues for a Jamie Arnold, Jeff Kubenka or Mike Judd. The Tigers were in the process of converting Checo from a reliever to a starter. Malone said Checo, once evaluated with the Dodgers, could be sent to Triple-A Albuquerque to build arm strength so he could be a long reliever. Checo didn't allow a run in two minor-league outings this season. A major part of the deal was the Dodgers' agreement to absorb most of Rojas' $4.5 million contract. Malone wouldn't comment on it, but sources said the Dodgers will pay approximately $3.7 million of the deal. The Dodgers already pay $1 million of Bobby Bonilla's contract. He was traded to the Mets for Rojas. Mlicki, who will be a free agent after the season, will earn $2.25 million this season. The Tigers will pay all of that. The Dodgers cut their payroll from nearly $84 million to $81 million. Add in the luxury tax - only players on the organization's 40-man roster count - and the Dodgers cut nearly $5 million from their payroll. ``Mlicki, for us, was the key because the last two years he established himself as a dependable starter,'' Tigers general manager Randy Smith said. Malone spoke with Smith last Friday and again Monday regarding a deal. Talks intensified Thursday and the deal was concluded later that night. Having already lost starters Seth Greisinger and Bryce Florie to injury, the Tigers were in the market for starting pitching. However, the Dodgers wouldn't make the deal unless the Tigers agreed to take Rojas, 32, who Smith said would be the Tigers' fourth right-hander in the bullpen. Garcia, a converted shortstop, is in his third season as a pitcher. He is 12-10 with a 4.47 ERA in 70 appearances. He will report to Double-A San Antonio. Roberts is 5-9 with a 3.46 ERA in two seasons of minor-league ball and will pitch at Single-A Vero Beach. MALONE METER Rating moves made by Dodgers GM Kevin Malone. Friday: Traded Mel Rojas and Dave Mlicki for three minor-leaguers. SACRIFICE FLY CAPTION(S): Box Box: MALONE METER (See text) |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion