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Montreal  Expos
Team Page | Roster | Spring Training Schedule | Regular Season Schedule
On this page: Arrivals | Departures | Spring Cleaning | Team Breakdown | Prospects | Predictions

Right fielder Vladimir Guerrero has more tools than Bob Vila. Brian Bahr/Allsport

By Doug Furnad, CNNSI.com

Not much went right for the Montreal Expos last season. New majority partner Jeffery Loria nearly doubled the payroll but a slew of injuries destroyed any hope of a winning season.

The Expos led the majors in games missed due to injuries (1,450) and sent 11 pitchers to the disabled list, including closer Ugueth Urbina and right-hander Carl Pavano for most of the season.

Montreal went 25-53 after the All-Star break and ended the season on a nine game losing streak -- 28 games out of first place.

There were some bright spots, however. Jose Vidro's breakout season (.330 Avg., 24 HR, 97 RBIs) earned him a trip to the All-Star Game and a place among the elite second basemen in the game. Outfielder Vladimir Guererro had another monster season (.345, 44, 123) and broke eight club offensive records -- seven of which already belonged to him.

Top Guns Expos 2000 team leaders Avg.  Vladimir Guerrero  .345  HR  Vladimir Guerrero  44  RBIs  Vladimir Guerrero  123  SB  Peter Bergeron  11  Wins  Dustin Hermanson  12  ERA  Carl Pavano  3.06  Ks  Javier Vazquez  196  Saves  Steve Kline  14    Go Figure 926,263 Expos' home attendance last year, lowest in the majors.

The Expos spent another winter pinching pennies, avoiding the free-agent market and trading away soon-to-be expensive players. Staff ace Dustin Hermanson and reliever Steve Kline were dealt to St. Louis in exchange for third baseman Fernando Tatis and reliever Britt Reames.

Tatis will solidify the Expos' lineup, assuming he is recovered from a groin tear. Expos manager Felipe Alou plans to bat Tatis in the third spot, between Vidro and Guerrero.

"He's an all-around player who's going to give us great defense and leadership in the infield, power, and some speed, which is something that we've needed for the last couple of years."

Hermanson's departure means Javier Vazquez will assume the role of staff ace with Tony Armas, Jr., Hideki Irabu and Mike Thurman moving up a spot in the rotation. They'll have to wait on Pavano, however. Pavano underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur from his elbow last August and won't be throwing from a mound until May.

The bullpen should be a strength with the return of Urbina and Graeme Lloyd. But how long Uggie stays north of the border is up for debate. Urbina is in the final year of a long-term deal, and has said he has no interest in negotiating an extension.

So, after trading pitching for more offense, general manager Jim Beattie has to hope the Expos can outscore their opponents and woo fans with exciting 9-8 ballgames. But if you recall the Devil Rays of 2000, that marketing ploy doesn't work.

Arrivals
Pos.	Player	From	Via
INF	Ryan Minor	Orioles	Trade
OF	Curtis Pride	Red Sox	Free agency
OF	Tim Raines	Retirement	Free Agency
RHP	Britt Reames	Cardinals	Trade
3B	Fernando Tatis	Cardinals	Trade

Departures
Pos.	Player	To	Via
RHP	Dustin Hermanson	Cardinals	Trade
RHP	Jorge Julio	Orioles	Trade
LHP	Steve Kline	Cardinals	Trade

Spring Cleaning

Ugueth Urbina Urbina's return from elbow surgery will be closely watched. Also returning from injury are Lloyd, RHP Hideki Irabu, LHP Scott Downs and LHP Matt Blank. Peter Bergeron won the center field job last spring but had a mediocre rookie season. After hitting over .330 in winter ball Bergeron should be poised to finally be the speedster the Expos need at the top of their order. Top prospect Milton Bradley could push Bergeron in center or end up in left field, where the other candidates include utilityman Geoff Blum and 41-year-old Tim Raines. The Expos played the 2000 season without a television contract. In 2001, they will be seen on both English-language and French-language stations, in a deal worth $1.4 million dollars, just a shade below the $60 million the Yankees get per anum.

Team Breakdown
Projected Lineup		Projected Rotation
CF	Peter Bergeron	RHP	Javier Vazquez
2B	Jose Vidro	RHP	Carl Pavano
3B	Fernando Tatis	RHP	Tony Armas Jr.
RF	Vladimir Guerrero	RHPs	B. Reames/M. Thurman
1B	Lee Stevens	RHP	Hideki Irabu
LF	Geoff Blum	Bullpen
C	Michael Barrett	RHP	Ugueth Urbina (closer)
SS	Orlando Cabrera	RHP	Anthony Telford
Key Reserves		RHP	Felipe Lira
OF	Milton Bradley	RHP	Scott Strickland
INF	Tomas De La Rosa	RHP	Mike Johnson
INF	Mike Mordecai	RHP	Guillermo Mota
INF	Fernando Seguignol	LHP	Jim Poole

Prospects to Watch
RHP Donnie Bridges -- Bridges, 22, is on the fast track to Montreal. He has a fastball clocked in the mid-90's and went 11-7 with a 2.39 ERA with six complete games after his promotion to Class AA Harrisburg. RHP T.J. Tucker -- Tucker, 22, was one of the bright spots for the organization in 1999 but had injury problems in 2000. He possesses an above-average fastball, curve and a dazzling changeup but was hit hard in his short stint in Montreal, posting an 0-1 record, with an ERA near 12. RHP Justin Wayne -- Wayne, 22, is a polished pitcher with a smooth delivery and four solid pitches. He was selected fifth overall in the 2000 draft and has been compared to Mike Mussina. A major league debut in 2001 is a possibility. OF Brad Wilkerson -- Wilkerson, 23, is a right fielder by trade but will have to move, because Guerrero isn't going anyone. His 47 doubles ranked second in the minors last year. Wilkerson also spent time with Tommy Lasorda on the Olympic Team.
Best-Case Scenario
Tatis bounces back from a sub-par 2000 and revisits his success from 1999. With Tatis behind him, Guerrero has his best season yet and wins the NL MVP. Pavano returns early from elbow problems, adding an effective innings-eater in the middle of the rotation. Urbina comes back strong and is once again automatic in the ninth inning. The Expos defy logic, and behind one of the most potent offenses in the leagueand manage to sneak in as the wild card.
Worst-Case Scenario
In a repeat of 2000, the young rotation folds under the pressure and needs more innings from Felipe Lira. The injury bug bites again, crippling the rotation. Tatis repeats 2000, and other teams pitch around Vlad, costing him his MVP trophy. He was intentionally walked a league-high 22 times in 2000. Milton Bradley becomes distraught over a lack of playing time and joins the separatist movement in Ottawa, causing unrest in the clubhouse and financial ruin to the already financially strapped team.
Bottom Line
The Expos have some talent, but their pitching is once again lacking depth. With Pavano on the shelf and Dustin Hermanson in St. Louis, it looks a fifth consecutive fourth-place finish. Any flirtation with the wild card in the summer months will be brief.

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