TAMPA, Fla. – The Anaheim Angels added one power hitter and sent another one packing on Wednesday.
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| Hill |
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| Canseco |
Overflowing with outfielders, the New York
Yankees traded Glenallen Hill to the Angels for Double-A outfielder Darren Blakely.
The Angels also announced they have released 36-year-old Jose Canseco.
Canseco, who agreed to a minor league contract with Anaheim in January, hit .231 with four runs scored, one double, one triple and three RBI in 13 spring training games. In 98 games with the Devil Rays and Yankees last season, Canseco batted .252 with 15 home runs and 49 RBI.
"He hadn't hit a (spring) home run," Anaheim general manager Bill
Stoneman said. "He was struggling with the bat. That, combined
with some aches and pains, gave me more concerns and we decided to
go with a different guy."
Manager Mike Scioscia also alluded to Canseco's ailments,
saying, "Jose worked real hard getting himself into shape, but it
was just a matter of us getting a guy that can be a little more
durable with an explosive bat.
"We feel that Jose still can hit; it's just a matter of his
durability."
Canseco has the third most homers of any active player (446), and is 23rd on the all-time list. Only Mark McGwire (554) and Barry Bonds (494) have more homers among active players.
Hill, 36, was acquired from the Chicago Cubs last July 16 and
hit 16 homers in 132 at-bats for the Yankees, including 10 in his
first 51 at-bats.
"He was fine," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "I think he
was just happy that something was done. He's been hanging around
here for a week or so knowing somebody was going to go."
Hill's role became superfluous when New York signed free agent
outfielder Henry Rodriguez, acquired backup Michael Coleman from
Cincinnati last week and shifted Chuck Knoblauch from second base
to left field.
"He's in a great situation now because he is going to be able
to DH," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "I can't have
that with Chuck out in left field. That locks (David) Justice in
the DH here, and Glen because just a right-handed pinch-hitter."
Rodriguez has missed the past couple days because of back
stiffness, but hopes to resume swinging a bat Thursday.
In addition to its three starting outfielders, New York also has
Shane Spencer, recovering from knee surgery, and Clay Bellinger, a
backup for both the infield and the outfield.
"Other changes in the Yankees' lineup have created a crowd at
certain positions that obviously required some moves to reach a
functional 25-man roster," said Hill's agent, Tom Reich. "This a
guy who made a huge contribution to last year's championship but
that's baseball in the new millennium."
Hill, who hit .333 with 29 RBI for New York, gets a $1.5
million salary this year.
The trade drops the Yankees' projected opening-day payroll under
$109 million, which probably will be below both the Boston Red Sox
and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Yankees led the major leagues last
year with a $113 million payroll.
"It shaves a little of it off, but this was just because we had
a glut of outfielders," Cashman said.
Acquired for pitchers Ben Ford and Ozwaldo Mairena, Hill was
among eight players brought in last season when the Yankees
struggled, part of a group that included Canseco, Dwight
Gooden, David Justice, Denny Neagle, Luis Polonia, Luis Sojo and
Jose Vizcaino.
Only Gooden, Justice and Sojo remain, and Gooden is not assured
a spot on the pitching staff when the Yankees open the season at
home against Kansas City on Monday.
Blakely, 24, hit .237 with 16 homers and 54 RBI at Double-A
Erie.
The Yankees also accepted back Rule 5 draftee Brandon Knight
from the Minnesota Twins. The right-handed pitcher was sent to Triple-A
Columbus.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories | |
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