Monday, July 29, 2002
Giants get Lofton; Dodgers add Shuey
Baseball notebook
The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants addressed their desperate needs for outfield depth and speed, acquiring six-time All-Star Kenny Lofton from the Chicago White Sox on Sunday for two minor leaguers.
The Giants sent right-hander Felix Diaz and left-hander Ryan Meaux to Chicago in exchange for Lofton, who's hitting .259 with eight homers, 42 RBI and 22 stolen bases with the White Sox this season. He's sixth in the AL in stolen bases and third in triples.
Lofton will be expected to contribute immediately to a San Francisco outfield that was missing Barry Bonds, Reggie Sanders, Tsuyoshi Shinjo and Marvin Benard during a weekend series against Los Angeles because of injuries.
“We're glad to have Kenny, and we got him in the nick of time,” Giants manager Dusty Baker said. “Not only do we want him, but we need him. He's a proven winner who will add a lot of excitement and spark the team.”
Lofton also is the true leadoff hitter the Giants have lacked for years. Sanders, a former Red, leads San Francisco with 17 stolen bases, but he typically hits in the heart of the order.
Lofton sat out of Chicago's weekend games against Kansas City while trade rumors swirled. He's expected to join the Giants in Philadelphia on Tuesday for a three-game series against the Phillies.
DODGERS: Paul Shuey was traded back into a pennant race when the Cleveland Indians sent the reliever to Los Angeles for three pitchers, including left-hander Terry Mulholland.
Minor-league right-handers Ricardo Rodriguez and Francisco Cruceta also were sent to Cleveland.
“I'm excited,” Shuey said. “But I'm as big an Indians fan as there is. Right now, I am on the edge of breaking down and being giddy. It is a funny day.”
Shuey, who'll join the Dodgers for a three-game series in Cincinnati beginning Tuesday, has been one of the AL's most dominant setup relievers despite making 11 trips to the disabled list since joining the Indians in 1994.
The right-hander is 3-0 with a 2.41 ERA in 39 appearances this season despite a trip to the DL in June with a strained left groin. He has a career record of 34-21.
“When I weighed the other offers for Shuey, I felt this deal, by far, was the best possible,” Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro said.
ASTROS: Houston released veteran reliever T.J.Mathews on Sunday, just 11 days after he came off the 60-day disabled list.
Mathews, signed as a free agent in the offseason, missed more than two months after straining his right biceps on April 2. He had appeared three times since coming back, giving up four runs and eight hits in 2 1-3 innings.
The Astros recalled reliever Jim Mann from Triple-A New Orleans to replace Mathews.
STREAK OVER: Atlanta's Gary Sheffield failed to reach base Sunday, snapping his team-record stretch of 52 games in a row.
YANKEES: Right-hander Roger Clemens might make another rehab start before coming off the disabled list.
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Giants get Lofton; Dodgers add Shuey
