Jocketty master of deadline deals
ST. LOUIS — Walt Jocketty is at his best at trade deadline.
Almost every year about this time, the St. Louis Cardinals get a talent infusion. The latest masterstroke by the general manager was the addition of Larry Walker.
Not only did Jocketty land a former MVP and three-time batting champion, he did so without harming the 40-man roster or putting a hole in the team’s budget.
“They always come up big,” pitcher Matt Morris said. “What an unbelievable acquisition.”
Jocketty first served notice he was a major late-season player when he brought in Mark McGwire from the Athletics for three nondescript pitchers at the 1997 deadline. McGwire helped the Cardinals make the playoffs in 2000. Then McGwire obliterated Roger Maris’ 37-year-old home run record with 70 in 1998 and hit 65 in 1999.
That was just the start:
•In 2000, he got Will Clark from the Orioles for minor league third baseman Jose Leon. Clark hit .345 with 12 homers and 42 RBIs in 51 games, helping the Cardinals get to the NLCS before they lost to the Mets.
•In 2001, a few days after the deadline, Jocketty acquired right-hander Woody Williams from the Padres in what was perceived to be a ho-hum exchange of journeymen. Williams was 7-1 with a 2.28 down the stretch to help produce a N.L. Central co-championship.
•In 2002, Scott Rolen was pried loose from the Phillies and he helped them win another division championship. This year he’s leading the N.L. with 98 RBIs, batting .338 and playing excellent defense at third base. The cost: second baseman Placido Polanco and pitchers Mike Timlin and Bud Smith.
Now, even though the Cardinals had the major leagues’ best record, Jocketty got ownership to OK a trade for Walker.
“You look at this lineup and say ‘How can it get any better?’ ” outfielder Reggie Sanders said. “But adding him, it does. It gives us a big boost.”
Walker, the 1997 N.L MVP, waived his no-trade clause Friday night in a deal that sent minor league pitcher Jason Burch and two players to be named to Colorado.
“You couldn’t ask for anything better,” Walker said.
It helped that Jocketty talked the Rockies into paying $7.5 million of his 2005 salary of $12.5 million. He also persuaded ownership to take on more payroll.
“We’re taking on some money this year in a year that we’ve stretched the budget about as far as we could,” Jocketty said. “They have to be commended for letting us make this deal.”
Penny to miss just one start
Dodgers pitcher Brad Penny has a strained right biceps and is expected to miss one start after being forced to leave a weekend game because of pain in his arm.
Making his second start after being acquired in a trade with Florida, the right-hander left Sunday’s game after throwing only 14 pitches against Philadelphia.
An MRI exam Monday revealed there were neither tears nor structural damage in his arm, Los Angeles spokesman John Olguin said.
Burrell’s season over
Phillies slugger Pat Burrell will have season-ending surgery on his wrist Friday, another blow to Philadelphia’s playoff hopes.
Burrell, who injured himself in batting practice last Tuesday, was hitting .263 with 18 homers and 68 RBIs. He’ll be replaced in left field by a combination of Doug Glanville, Jason Michaels and rookie Lou Collier.
“It’s terrible,” Burrell said. “The timing is awful because we are playing good at this time.”
•Trying to bolster a rotation depleted by injuries, the Phillies acquired starting pitcher Cory Lidle from the Cincinnati Reds for two minor leaguers and a player to be named.
Cincinnati obtained Class-A outfielder Javon Moran and left-handed pitcher Joe Wilson in the trade.
Giambi healing slowly
Jason Giambi is slowly regaining strength, and New York Yankees manager Joe Torre thinks the former A.L. MVP will report this week to the team’s spring training complex in Tampa, Fla.
The first baseman, who has felt weak for most of the season, has not played since July 23. The Yankees at first diagnosed him with an intestinal parasite, then said that he had a benign tumor, without disclosing where it was located.
Torre spoke with Giambi for the first time since the he left the team in Toronto on July 27 to return to New York for tests.
“He sounds great,” Torre said. “He’s excited about getting into some physical stuff.”
Clearing the bases
The Athletics placed reliever Chad Bradford on the 15-day disabled list with a strained back and called up right-hander Jairo Garcia from Triple-A Sacramento. … Tigers outfielder Alex Sanchez was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained right thigh. Detroit recalled outfielder Nook Logan from Triple-A Toledo.