MLB NOTEBOOK: ANGELS TAKE A CHANCE WITH ROMERO.Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services One of the best bullpens in baseball got a piece it had been missing Friday when the Angels landed left-handed reliever J.C. Romero from the Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Twins have played in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. in a trade for minor-league infielder Alexi Casilla Alexi Casilla Lora (born July 20, 1984 in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball infielder. On December 9, 2005, the Los Angeles Angels traded Casilla to the Minnesota Twins for pitcher J.C. Romero. . The Angels were able to make the move because of problems Romero had in Minnesota, particularly with Twins manager Ron Gardenhire Romero, 29, was one of the best left-handed relievers in baseball in 2002 when he went 9-2 with a 1.89 ERA for a Twins team that lost to the Angels in the ALCS ALCS American League Championship Series (baseball) ALCS Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society (UK) ALCS Airborne Launch Control System . But since then, his numbers have dipped. ``If the environment you work in is comfortable, your performance will be a lot better,'' said Romero. ``When you feel disrespected and feel you can't do anything about it, it's frustrating.'' In a game last year, Romero angrily flipped the ball to Gardenhire when he was taken out of a game, prompting a meeting between the next day that apparently was too little, too late. ``In the absence of his difficulties with Gardenhire, he probably wouldn't have been available to us or anybody,'' Angels general manager Bill Stoneman said. ``We have people who know him and we're happy to have him. He's going to get along with people here.'' Romero, who will make $2.2 million in 2006, was 4-3 with a 3.47 ERA last season. Casilla, 21, spent the 2005 season with Single-A Cedar Rapids, Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Salt Lake. He hit a combined .311 with 49 stolen bases in 98 games. To make room for Romero on the 40-man roster, the Angels designated backup catcher Josh Paul for assignment. Paul probably will wind up with the Devil Rays, now managed by former Angels bench coach Joe Maddon. Paul's departure could trigger a move for the Angels to sign free agent Mike Piazza or trade for the Orioles' Javy Lopez. Either could serve as a designated hitter and backup catcher behind Jeff Mathis and Jose Molina. Lopez might be the more economical fit because he would come via trade, meaning the Angels could offset his $8.5 million salary with the salary of a player sent to the Orioles, possibly first baseman Darin Erstad, who also will make $8.5 million in `06. That also would allow Casey Kotchman to take over at first base. - Joe Haakenson --Moving on: Utility infielder Lou Merloni, who played in just five games for the Angels last season before tearing ligaments in his right ankle in early May, agreed to a minor-league deal with Cleveland. Merloni, 34, may help the Indians in their pursuit of free agent infielder Nomar Garciaparra. Merloni and Garciaparra were teammates with the Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox are a member and currently champions of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball’s American League. From to the present, the Red Sox have played in Fenway Park. and remain close friends. --More deals: The Mets dealt minor league pitcher Gaby Hernandez and outfielder Dante Brinkley to the Florida Marlins, completing a trade that brought catcher Paul Lo Duca Paul Anthony Lo Duca (born April 12, 1972 in Brooklyn, New York) is a catcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the New York Mets. Previously, Lo Duca played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1998-2004) and Florida Marlins (2004-2005). to New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of ... The Mets also gave 47-year-old backup first baseman Julio Franco a two-year, $2.2 million deal. ... Atlanta signed 38-year-old free-agent catcher Todd Pratt to a one-year contract. --D.C. deal in place: The District of Columbia District of Columbia, federal district (2000 pop. 572,059, a 5.7% decrease in population since the 1990 census), 69 sq mi (179 sq km), on the east bank of the Potomac River, coextensive with the city of Washington, D.C. (the capital of the United States). and Major League Baseball "MLB" and "Major Leagues" redirect here. For other uses, see MLB (disambiguation) and Major Leagues (disambiguation). Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. agreed on a lease for a new Washington Nationals' ballpark, a deal that if approved will clear the biggest obstacle remaining before the team is sold. |
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