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Devil Rays
acquire Green from Braves
By Bill Chastain / Special to MLB.com |
 ST.
PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Devil Rays
acquired the utility infielder they've
been wanting in a trade with the Braves,
then they brought in some outfield help
via the waiver wire on Thursday.
Right-hander Jorge Sosa was shipped to
Atlanta in exchange for infielder Nick
Green, a 26-year-old who can play second
base, shortstop and third. The team also
claimed outfielder Michael Restovich off
waivers from the Twins.
"We're going to continue to try and get
this club better going into Monday's
opener," said Chuck LaMar, the Devil
Rays' general manager. "I'm excited
about the moves we made [on Thursday].
And I'm sure we'll have some other
discussions over the next couple of
days."
Green will help solidify a Tampa Bay
infield that was weakened when Roberto
Alomar retired on March 19.
The trade "provides me an opportunity to
play," Green said. "I guess that's
better for me.
"[Braves manager] Bobby Cox and [Braves
general manager] John [Schuerholz] told
me LaMar wants me to get a lot of
at-bats. I'll find out what that means
when I get over there."
Playing mostly second base for the
Braves in 2004 while Marcus Giles was
hurt, Green hit .273 with three home
runs and 26 RBIs in 95 games. Prior to
his May 15, 2004, callup to Atlanta,
Green was hitting .377 in 22 games at
Triple-A Richmond.
"I would never have been in this spot if
not for last year," Green said. "If I
didn't have the opportunity to play last
year, those guys would have never seen
what I can do and never wanted me."
Green, who was the Braves' 32nd round
selection in the 1998 First-Year Player
Draft, was hitting .304 with one home
run and three RBIs this spring.
"He's a gamer," said Schuerholz. "He's a
guy whose teammates love him. He's a
real pro. He'll get an opportunity to
play a lot more now with Tampa Bay, and
I think he'll respond to it and do well.
I think he'll be an asset, as we believe
Sosa will be to us."
Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella said the
trade didn't change the status of second
baseman Jorge Cantu.
"On Opening Day, Cantu will play
second," Piniella said. "We're going to
let this kid get acclimated here.
Everybody's going to get a chance to
play."
Sosa, 26, pitched in 103 games (41
starts) for the Devil Rays over the last
three seasons, compiling an 11-26 record
with a 5.17 ERA. Tampa Bay picked him up
off waivers from the Brewers on March
18, 2002, following his selection in the
Rule 5 Draft from the Mariners. This
spring, he appeared in seven games and
posted a 1-0 record with a 3.18 ERA.
"I'm happy, because I'm going to have
the opportunity to play for a contending
team," Sosa said. "It's kind of sad at
the same time. No, I didn't expect it."
Bill Chastain is a
contributor to MLB.com. This story was
not subject to the approval of Major
League Baseball or its clubs. |
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