BLOCKBUSTER TRADE DEALS SANCHEZ FOR McCLENDON
PITTSBURGH - Pirate's General Manager Dave Littlefield announced a complex three-way trade yesterday with the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers that, when reduced to its essence, trades National League batting champ Freddy Sanchez for bullpen coach Lloyd McClendon. Sanchez is being sent to Chicago; the Cubs are sending a minor league player to the Tigers; and the Tigers are sending bullpen coach and former Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon to Pittsburgh. Littlefield said that the trade will serve to boost the "woeful" batting average of the Cubs, who "were a disgrace to the Central Division, falling behind the Pirates." In addition, the trade eases the Pirates' salary concerns, especially for the future because "we're not going to be able to keep paying Freddy peanuts forever, you know." Most important, Littlefield said, "we get a known quantity to sit in our bullpen and help our young relievers learn the McClendon approach to the game."
PITTSBURGH - Pirate's General Manager Dave Littlefield announced a complex three-way trade yesterday with the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers that, when reduced to its essence, trades National League batting champ Freddy Sanchez for bullpen coach Lloyd McClendon. Sanchez is being sent to Chicago; the Cubs are sending a minor league player to the Tigers; and the Tigers are sending bullpen coach and former Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon to Pittsburgh. Littlefield said that the trade will serve to boost the "woeful" batting average of the Cubs, who "were a disgrace to the Central Division, falling behind the Pirates." In addition, the trade eases the Pirates' salary concerns, especially for the future because "we're not going to be able to keep paying Freddy peanuts forever, you know." Most important, Littlefield said, "we get a known quantity to sit in our bullpen and help our young relievers learn the McClendon approach to the game."
