Mets send Hundley to L.A. in 3-way deal
N.Y. gets reliever Benitez; Charles Johnson goes to Orioles
Posted: Tuesday December 01, 1998 11:10 PM
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Better days: Todd Hundley went yard 41 times in 1996, setting a big-league record for homers by a catcher AP |
NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Mets finally
settled their catching dilemma, shored up their bullpen and may be on the
verge of filling a big hole in their batting order.
The Mets sent Todd Hundley
and a minor league pitcher to Los Angeles for catcher Charles
Johnson and outfielder Roger Cedeno.
They then traded Johnson to Baltimore for reliever Armando
Benitez.
"It is a bittersweet day in Mets history with Todd Hundley leaving the
organization," Mets general manager Steve Phillips said. "We feel we've
added in Armando Benitez one of the best power pitchers in the game, and
somebody who will give us a completely different look in the bullpen."
The Mets weren't done there. It appeared the team also had reached
agreement with third baseman Robin Ventura,
with the team refusing to confirm or deny whether a deal had been
completed.
"We are hopeful we have made a significant enough offer that shows our
interest," Phillips said. "We would like to have him in a Mets uniform. I'm
hopeful."
However, Orioles general manager Frank Wren said late Tuesday night he
thought his team still had a chance to sign Ventura.
Benitez gives the Mets added depth in their bullpen. He went 5-6 with a
3.82 ERA and 22 saves last season for Baltimore. His 100 mph fastball
enabled him to register 87 strikeouts in 67 1-3 innings this season.
But he never quite showed the maturity necessary to handle the closer's
role. His low point of last season, and his career, occurred May 19 when he
struck Tino
Martinez of the Yankees with a pitch after serving up a homer to Bernie
Williams. Benitez was suspended for eight games as a result.
Convinced he couldn't handle the closer's role in 1999, the Orioles
obtained free agent Mike Timlin last
month. Benitez will be the right-handed setup man for closer John Franco.
"This allows Benitez to be in the best role for this stage of his
career," Phillips said. "With the strength of our bullpen, he will not be
called upon to close regularly. The incidents he has had are part of the
maturity process that will happen."
The 24-year-old Cedeno, a switch hitter long considered a top prospect,
played in 105 games for the Dodgers last season and hit .242 with two
homers and 17 RBIs. He will probably back up all three outfield positions.
Hundley became expendable after New York kept Mike Piazza with
a $91 million, seven-year deal in October. Hundley struggled last season
after returning from the disabled list in July following reconstructive
surgery on his right elbow at the end of the 1997 season.
By the time he returned, he had lost his job behind the plate to Piazza,
who was acquired from Florida on May 22. The Mets failed in an attempt to
convert Hundley to an outfielder, as he committed five errors in 34 starts
in left field.
Hundley, a 29-year-old switch-hitter, hit just .161 with three homers,
12 RBIs and 55 strikeouts in 124 at-bats, limiting his trade value. Before
the injury, Hundley was one of the most feared hitters in the league,
setting a major league record for homers by a catcher in 1996, with 41.
Hundley also hit .259 and drove in 112 runs that year. He followed that
up with 30 homers and 86 RBIs in 1997, when he was hampered by elbow
problems.
The minor leaguer the Mets gave up was right-hander Arnold Gooch, 22,
who was 11-14 with a 3.90 ERA last season for Class AA Binghamton.
Phillips, who had already made a $32 million, four-year offer to
Ventura, met with the third baseman's agent John Boggs on Tuesday night.
Phillips would not say if the team increased its offer.
Earlier Tuesday, Boggs said the Orioles and Mets were in a
"neck-and-neck" race for Ventura and that Texas is also interested but has
not made an offer. Ventura made $6.1 million last season.
Ventura hit .263 with 21 homers and 91 RBIs last season and would
provide left-handed protection in the lineup for Piazza. He also won his
fifth Gold Glove. If the Mets sign Ventura, Edgardo
Alfonzo would move to second base.
Surhoff has offers from the Mets, Orioles and Pirates. Pittsburgh has
offered a $17 million, four-year deal and Surhoff is hoping for four-years
proposals from Baltimore and New York.
Phillips wants the Surhoff and Ventura negotiations resolved quickly so
if the Mets miss out on both players, they can start developing another
plan. Phillips already plans to meet with outfielder Rickey
Henderson and is talking with Milwaukee about a trade for Fernando Vina.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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