Cubs land biggest fish on deadline
Fans were still lingering around Wrigley Field on Saturday less than an hour after the game when the news of the big trade began to spread.
“Let’s Go Nomar!” one fan began to chant.
Nomar Garciaparra is coming to Chicago from the Boston Red Sox following a four-way trade that already had the Cubs’ faithful delirious with anticipation.
Garciaparra might even make it to town in time to play today. What a debut that would be — Greg Maddux will be pitching against Philadelphia for his 300th career victory.
The Cubs trail St. Louis by a wide margin in the N.L. Central, but still think they can get to the playoffs. And now they have a player who might help them get there.
“We are obviously in a critical point. We are way behind the Cardinals and we are right in thick of the wild-card race,” general manager Jim Hendry said Saturday.
“I felt if we were going to try to do something we might try to do something at shortstop,” he said.
In the four-way deal with Minnesota and Montreal also participants, the Cubs gave up shortstop Alex Gonzalez, promising reliever Francis Beltran, minor league infielder Brendan Harris and minor league lefty Justin Jones.
“It’s kind of a reaction of disbelief when you get a guy of that quality,” Cubs manager Dusty Baker said after a 4-3 loss to the Phillies. “It’s not every day you’re going to pick up a Nomar Garciaparra.”
Baker said he would go home and put a pencil to some projected batting orders and see where Garciaparra, a .323 lifetime hitter, fits in his lineup with Sammy Sosa, Moises Alou, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez.
“It’s tough on one end to lose one part of your family like Gonzo, but you’re getting a heck of a player,” Baker said.
Garciaparra missed the first 57 games with a sore right Achilles tendon and was batting .321 in 38 games.
Dodgers busy, but no Big Unit
The Arizona Diamondbacks traded Gold Glove center fielder Steve Finley and catcher Brent Mayne to the Los Angeles Dodgers, just beating baseball’s deadline to make deals without waivers.
Having landed Finley, the Dodgers traded center fielder Dave Roberts to Boston for minor league outfielder Henri Stanley.
While ace Randy Johnson stayed in Arizona, his veteran teammate joined a contender. Finley had a right to block the deal, but decided to accept a trade to the N.L. West-leading Dodgers.
The Dodgers sent minor league catcher Koyie Hill, outfielder Reggie Abercrombie and left-hander Bill Murphy to Arizona. The Dodgers acquired Murphy on Friday in a trade with the Florida Marlins.
The Dodgers also sent left-handed reliever Tom Martin and cash to the Atlanta Braves for minor league pitcher Matt Merricks.
Marlins add to pitching staff
Florida acquired starter Ismael Valdez from the San Diego Padres and reliever Rudy Seanez from the Kansas City Royals.
The Marlins sent outfielder Abraham Nunez to the Royals for Seanez and minor league pitcher Travis Chick to the Padres for the right-handed Valdez.
Yankees, White Sox swap pitchers
The New York Yankees wound up adding an All-Star pitcher after all.
Not Arizona’s Johnson — but not bad, either.
Just one minute before baseball’s 4 p.m. trade deadline, the Yankees acquired 20-game winner Esteban Loaiza from the Chicago White Sox for enigmatic right-hander Jose Contreras and $3 million.
“The deal was done, but the paperwork didn’t go through until 3:59,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said.
Loaiza gives the A.L. East-leading Yankees some stability on an aging staff that has struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness at times this season.
Clearing the bases
The Phillies put left-handed closer Billy Wagner on the 15-day disabled list with a strained rotator cuff. Philadelphia activated right-hander Amaury Telemaco… . Houston left-hander Andy Pettitte was a late scratch from his scheduled start Saturday against Cincinnati because of soreness in his elbow… . Oakland activated infielder Esteban German from the 15-day DL and assigned infielder Ramon Castro to Double-A Midland.