Cubs trade for Nevin
By Phil Rogers
Tribune baseball reporter
Published May 31, 2006, 5:24 PM CDT
Six weeks after first baseman Derrek Lee broke his wrist, the Cubs acquired a replacement for him.
The Cubs Wednesday sent Jerry Hairston Jr. to the Texas Rangers for Phil Nevin. As aprt of the deal, the Rangers will pay a portion of Nevin's $10 million salary.
Nevin, 35, is hitting .216 with nine home runs and 31 RBIs for the Rangers. He opened the season as Texas' cleanup hitter but had fallen out of favor with manager Buck Showalter, who has been using rookie Jason Botts as part of a designated-hitter platoon with Nevin.
Nevin has been unable to pull himself out of a month-long slump. He hit .278 with seven homers in April but is batting only .139 with two homers in 79 at-bats in May.
A right-handed hitter, Nevin was drafted as a catcher and has played all over the field. One benefit he brings to the Cubs is that he might be able to get time at catcher when Michael Barrett serves his upcoming suspension. He would figure to move to the bench when Lee is activated and could get time at third base and in the outfield.
"It's a much-needed deal for us. We needed some right-handed sock," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said.
Nevin's best season was with San Diego in 2001, when he hit .306 with 41 homers and 126 RBIs; he played in the All-Star game that season.
"We're just looking for somebody who has the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "We explored every possibility the last month to add a bat."
"The way Phil played out of the gate in April, he probably would have been impossible to acquire in a trade like this," Hendry said.
"This gives Phil the opportunity to play first base for the Cubs," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "He's a veteran guy who's played a lot. When we brought up Jason Botts, he got some tough news, but he handled it well."
Hairston, who went to Chicago from Baltimore in the Sammy Sosa trade before the 2005 season, was hitting .207 with no homers and four RBIs in 38 games for the Cubs. The 30-year-old Hairston started 21 games this season, 18 at second base, two in right field and one in left.
"I know these guys are working so hard. I know they're going to turn it around," Hairston said.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
By Phil Rogers
Tribune baseball reporter
Published May 31, 2006, 5:24 PM CDT
Six weeks after first baseman Derrek Lee broke his wrist, the Cubs acquired a replacement for him.
The Cubs Wednesday sent Jerry Hairston Jr. to the Texas Rangers for Phil Nevin. As aprt of the deal, the Rangers will pay a portion of Nevin's $10 million salary.
Nevin, 35, is hitting .216 with nine home runs and 31 RBIs for the Rangers. He opened the season as Texas' cleanup hitter but had fallen out of favor with manager Buck Showalter, who has been using rookie Jason Botts as part of a designated-hitter platoon with Nevin.
Nevin has been unable to pull himself out of a month-long slump. He hit .278 with seven homers in April but is batting only .139 with two homers in 79 at-bats in May.
A right-handed hitter, Nevin was drafted as a catcher and has played all over the field. One benefit he brings to the Cubs is that he might be able to get time at catcher when Michael Barrett serves his upcoming suspension. He would figure to move to the bench when Lee is activated and could get time at third base and in the outfield.
"It's a much-needed deal for us. We needed some right-handed sock," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said.
Nevin's best season was with San Diego in 2001, when he hit .306 with 41 homers and 126 RBIs; he played in the All-Star game that season.
"We're just looking for somebody who has the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "We explored every possibility the last month to add a bat."
"The way Phil played out of the gate in April, he probably would have been impossible to acquire in a trade like this," Hendry said.
"This gives Phil the opportunity to play first base for the Cubs," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "He's a veteran guy who's played a lot. When we brought up Jason Botts, he got some tough news, but he handled it well."
Hairston, who went to Chicago from Baltimore in the Sammy Sosa trade before the 2005 season, was hitting .207 with no homers and four RBIs in 38 games for the Cubs. The 30-year-old Hairston started 21 games this season, 18 at second base, two in right field and one in left.
"I know these guys are working so hard. I know they're going to turn it around," Hairston said.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
