PVBL: Phoenix Gila Monsters
Phoenix Sets Lineup After Trade With Mets
April 4, 1999

Phoenix (AP) - On the heels of their last big trade of the season, a blockbuster sending 1B Jeff Bagwell to Binghampton in exchange for Mark Whiten, Chili Davis, and OF prospect Oort Cloud, Phoenix GM Patrick Bridges set his lineup and rotation for the season. This final trade finishes a big off-season for the Gila Monsters, who also parted with Ed Sprague and Ray Lankford. However, the Monsters feel they got great, long-term value for the departing players. In return for Lankford, Sprague, and Bagwell, Phoenix received OFs Whiten and Davis, SS Derek Jeter, 3B super-prospect Paul Konerko, and OF prospect Oort Cloud.

"We were not happy to part with Jeff, Ray, or Ed, but we needed some lefty or switch-hitting power for the season.", said Bridges. "Whiten and Davis can more than provide that. While it is perhaps a bit of a gamble, it gives us a bit of time for two of our best young outfielders, Abreu and Brosius, to hone their skills, and to start working out with Oort." Bridges went on to say that he expects a great season from the Monsters, one at least as good as last season. "While most other top-notch teams lost several significant players, we cam through the free-agent plan unscathed. The revamping of our lineup in the off-season, coupled with our more-than-intact pitching should allow for a great season."

Bridges announced the following as his lineup for the season:
vs. RHP
Ps Name                 CH  PH  SP   Age Exp  B   FA  AS  Qual Pos
SS Jeter, Derek         85  55  62   21   4   R   69  59     
CF Stewart, Shannon     55  54  65   22   4   R   63  68     
LF Justice, Dave        69  91  51   29  10   L   74  66  CF-53   
RF Mondesi, Raul        67  99  67   25   6   R   49  99  1B-64   
DH Whiten, Mark         50  89  47   29   9   S   38  95  1B-47,CF-28
3B Konerko, Paul        61  81  37   21   1   R   53  49     
1B Davis, Chili         64  78  25   36  18   S   51  42        
 C Miestro, Maxwell     49  55  38   23   1   L   63  66     
2B Gonzalez, Alex       49  77  61   22   5   R   75  86     
       			      		  
vs. LHP				      		  
Ps Name                 CH  PH  SP   Age Exp  B   FA  AS  Qual Pos
SS Jeter, Derek         85  55  62   21   4   R   69  59     
CF Stewart, Shannon     55  54  65   22   4   R   63  68     
RF Mondesi, Raul        67  99  67   25   6   R   49  99  1B-64   
3B Konerko, Paul        61  81  37   21   1   R   53  49     
LF Justice, Dave        69  91  51   29  10   L   74  66  CF-53   
DH Whiten, Mark         50  89  47   29   9   S   38  95  1B-47,CF-28
1B Davis, Chili         64  78  25   36  18   S   51  42        
 C Monteleone, Randy    41  66  31   30  10   R   43  58     
2B Gonzalez, Alex       49  77  61   22   5   R   75  86     
						  
ML Reserves					  
Ps Name                 CH  PH  SP   Age Exp  B   FA  AS  Qual Pos
SS Meares, Pat          53  60  56   27   6   R   44  68  2B-44   
3B Zeile, Todd          48  66  23   30  10   R   56  46  1B-60   
RF Abreu, Bob           48  56  44   22   2   L   63  79     
CF Brosius, James       53  45  59   22   2   R   58  50   

Rotation
T  Name                 AS  EN  CO  HR   FB  CU  SI  SL  CB   Age Exp 
R  Reynolds, Shane      59  83  99  66   62   0  81   0  80   28   7  
L  Alvarez, Wilson      74  86  92  29   71  38   0  55  62   26   9  
R  Astacio, Pedro       64  80  95  70    0  54  62  50  79   26   7  
L  Avery, Steve         79  71  99  74   80  44   0  42  60   25   9  
R  Park, Chan Ho        90  63  39  88   78  31   0  42  57   22   5  
							      		   
Long Relief						      		   
T  Name                 AS  EN  CO  HR   FB  CU  SI  SL  CB   Age Exp 
L  Swindell, Greg       51  53  70   5   89  47  58  68   0   31  13  
							      	       
Middle Relief						      	       
T  Name                 AS  EN  CO  HR   FB  CU  SI  SL  CB   Age Exp 
R  Holmes, Darren       67  42  67  55   33   0  61   0  73   29   9  
R  Blazier, Ron         50  53  99  66   67   0   0  47   0   24   3  
L  Jackson, Danny       67  55  52  59   55  35   0  70  49   34  16  
							      
Setup							      
T  Name                 AS  EN  CO  HR   FB  CU  SI  SL  CB   Age Exp 
L  Daal, Omar           72  30  87  90    0   0  56   0  70   24   6  
						      		      
Closer							      	      
T  Name                 AS  EN  CO  HR   FB  CU  SI  SL  CB   Age Exp 
R  Nelson, Jeff         74  33  58  35   49   0   0  97   0   29   7

--written by Patrick Bridges