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Wednesday, July 30, 1997

Rangers obtain Leyritz in trade

By DAVID GINSBURG / AP Sports Writer

BALTIMORE (AP) - The Anaheim Angels on Tuesday boosted their starting rotation for a possible playoff run, obtaining right-hander Ken Hill from the Texas Rangers for catcher Jim Leyritz and a player to be named.

The Angels began the day trailing first-place Seattle by 2-1/2 games in the AL West. Anaheim was also just two games behind the New York Yankees in the wild-card race.

"We needed a front-line pitcher, and Ken Hill is a front-line pitcher," Anaheim manager Terry Collins said in Cleveland as the Angels prepared to play the Indians. "Ken Hill eats up innings for us. I put him in the same class as Chuck (Finley) and (Jason) Dickson.

"This guy was a front-line pitcher with the Cardinals for years and last year with Texas," Collins noted. "If we can find him, and if he feels OK, he'll pitch tomorrow."

Hill (5-8, 5.19 ERA) was scheduled to start for Texas on Tuesday night against the Baltimore Orioles. He was replaced by Jose Alberro, who was called up from Class AAA Oklahoma City.

"We didn't steal anybody. We gave away a good player. We sent quality to get quality," Angels general manager Bill Bavasi said. "It was time to take a chance and get a guy like this. ... We think we got one of the finest arms available on the market."

While the Angels made the deal with the present in mind, Rangers general manager Doug Melvin worked the trade with an eye toward the future.

By obtaining Leyritz, the Rangers put themselves in position to deal All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who is eligible for free agency after this season. Rodriguez, who has rejected a five-year, $38 million contract offer by Texas, is rumored to be headed for the Orioles or Yankees before Thursday's trading deadline.

With the Rangers under .500 and virtually out of playoff contention, Melvin is already looking toward next year.

"We're trying to put together a long-range plan knowing that we had a few free agents that could walk at the end of the year," Texas manager Johnny Oates said. "Doug and his people have been trying to sign the free agents, but we haven't been making a whole lot of progress."

The 31-year-old Hill has 68 strikeouts and 58 walks in 19 starts this season. The opposition is hitting .298 against him.

"A lot of the feeling is this guy is ready to get back on track and be the Ken Hill we know," Bavasi said. "We hope we're getting him at a time where he's just about to kick it in."

Hill broke into the majors in 1988 with the St. Louis Cardinals and has also played with Montreal and Cleveland. His best season was in 1994, when he went 16-5 with a 3.32 ERA in 23 starts.

He was 16-10 with Texas last season and owns a lifetime record of 95-76.

"There's been a lot of teams interested in him over the last few days," Oates said. "Doug kept talking back and forth, then made his best deal this afternoon."

Leyritz, 33, found out about the trade at about 5 p.m. and left Jacobs Field. Leyritz, acquired from the Yankees for two minor leaguers last December, helped carry the Angels early in the season.

He's batting .276 with 11 homers and 50 RBIs in 84 games.

"We certainly hate to lose Jim Leyritz. Without him in April, I don't know where we'd be," Collins said. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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