even with the cost-cutting angle....
Pirates waive reliever Herges in surprise move
March 26, 2003
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates placed Matt Herges on waivers Wednesday after trading two pitching prospects to Montreal to acquire the reliever in December.
Outfielder Adam Hyzdu was optioned to Triple-A Nashville, the second consecutive spring he lasted until the final cut without making the team as the Pirates reached the 25-man roster limit.
The right-handed Herges won 20 games in relief for the Dodgers in 2000 and 2001 and was expected to give the Pirates another strong arm in middle relief. He was 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA this spring, striking out seven and allowing three hits in 9 1-3 innings.
But only two days after manager Lloyd McClendon praised him, the Pirates let him go -- apparently to keep right-hander Salomon Torres around in case he is needed to move into the starting rotation.
``I was in complete shock when they told me,'' Herges said. ``I don't see any reason why I'm not on the team. I don't know what I had to do to make it. I asked Dave (Littlefield, the general manager) for a reason and he never really gave me one.''
Littlefield explored possible trades for Herges, but couldn't find any takers.
``This just baffles me,'' Herges said. ``I don't understand why they traded for me. It really makes no sense.''
The move also means left-hander Dennys Reyes makes the club, despite a mostly ineffective spring. Reyes has a 6.23 ERA and didn't pitch for more than a week after being hit in the head by a line drive.
Herges avoided arbitration in January by agreeing to a non-guaranteed $825,000 salary, but the Pirates had until Wednesday to release him and owe only $270,492.
Still, the December deal with Montreal effectively cost them more than that. To get Herges, the Pirates dealt prospects Chris Young, a 2000 third-round pick, and Jon Searles to Montreal. The Pirates paid Young a $1.5 million signing bonus to entice him away from his Princeton University basketball career.
Only Tuesday, McClendon said the small-market Pirates must make shrewd personnel decisions and spend their money wisely.
``We're fragile,'' he said. ``When you lose a valuable piece, you don't replace it. We don't have the dollars to replace it.''
With Herges gone, Torres opens the season in the bullpen, even though all but 25 of his 73 career appearances have been starts. He gives the Pirates an insurance policy should No. 5 starter Jeff D'Amico have any problems. D'Amico has gone on the disabled list five times in the last six seasons.
By keeping Reyes, McClendon gets his preferred mix of four right-handed relievers (Torres, Julian Tavarez, Brian Boehringer and closer Mike Williams) and three left-handers (Reyes, Joe Beimel and Scott Sauerbeck).
Hyzdu has 17 homers in 245 at-bats the last three seasons but, because Craig Wilson can catch, play first or the outfield, the Pirates had no reason to carry three spare outfielders.
Pirates waive reliever Herges in surprise move
March 26, 2003
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates placed Matt Herges on waivers Wednesday after trading two pitching prospects to Montreal to acquire the reliever in December.
Outfielder Adam Hyzdu was optioned to Triple-A Nashville, the second consecutive spring he lasted until the final cut without making the team as the Pirates reached the 25-man roster limit.
The right-handed Herges won 20 games in relief for the Dodgers in 2000 and 2001 and was expected to give the Pirates another strong arm in middle relief. He was 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA this spring, striking out seven and allowing three hits in 9 1-3 innings.
But only two days after manager Lloyd McClendon praised him, the Pirates let him go -- apparently to keep right-hander Salomon Torres around in case he is needed to move into the starting rotation.
``I was in complete shock when they told me,'' Herges said. ``I don't see any reason why I'm not on the team. I don't know what I had to do to make it. I asked Dave (Littlefield, the general manager) for a reason and he never really gave me one.''
Littlefield explored possible trades for Herges, but couldn't find any takers.
``This just baffles me,'' Herges said. ``I don't understand why they traded for me. It really makes no sense.''
The move also means left-hander Dennys Reyes makes the club, despite a mostly ineffective spring. Reyes has a 6.23 ERA and didn't pitch for more than a week after being hit in the head by a line drive.
Herges avoided arbitration in January by agreeing to a non-guaranteed $825,000 salary, but the Pirates had until Wednesday to release him and owe only $270,492.
Still, the December deal with Montreal effectively cost them more than that. To get Herges, the Pirates dealt prospects Chris Young, a 2000 third-round pick, and Jon Searles to Montreal. The Pirates paid Young a $1.5 million signing bonus to entice him away from his Princeton University basketball career.
Only Tuesday, McClendon said the small-market Pirates must make shrewd personnel decisions and spend their money wisely.
``We're fragile,'' he said. ``When you lose a valuable piece, you don't replace it. We don't have the dollars to replace it.''
With Herges gone, Torres opens the season in the bullpen, even though all but 25 of his 73 career appearances have been starts. He gives the Pirates an insurance policy should No. 5 starter Jeff D'Amico have any problems. D'Amico has gone on the disabled list five times in the last six seasons.
By keeping Reyes, McClendon gets his preferred mix of four right-handed relievers (Torres, Julian Tavarez, Brian Boehringer and closer Mike Williams) and three left-handers (Reyes, Joe Beimel and Scott Sauerbeck).
Hyzdu has 17 homers in 245 at-bats the last three seasons but, because Craig Wilson can catch, play first or the outfield, the Pirates had no reason to carry three spare outfielders.
