White, Mulholland Dealt, 8 Candidates for Rotation January 9, 2000
Q: How do you trade a 24-year old baseball prodigy that batted .367 with
122 runs, 28 home runs, 97 RBIs and 35 stolen bases?
A: By including Brady Anderson, Jack McDowell and a Free Agent Draft pick
in the deal.
Royals GM/Owner Carbonetto finalized the deal over the phone last night
with Spokane GM Stephens. This trade spruces up the Royals home run
power--Brady Anderson hit 52 home runs for the Pirates last year. The trio
of Rusty Greer, Brady Anderson and Frank Thomas might rival the "Madmen
from Motown"; Burks, Griffey and Sosa.
It is rumours that Rondell White's marital problems in Montreal may have
contributed to the Royals' desire to finalize the deal.
"I had a lot of fun in Montreal," said Rondell. (add Southern accent at
will) "It didn't last long enough, that's for sure. I'll miss Rusty and
Pokey and that ol' teddy bear, Randy Tiemann. But I'll looking forward to
building a contender in Spokane."
Jack McDowell is one of the more underrated pitchers in the league. "String
bean" will turn 31 on August 15th, but has one of the best sinkerballs in
baseball. He had a 4.09 ERA for the Pirates and managed a pretty decent
12-8 record, considering he played for a sub-.500 team.
This trade only adds more mystery to the big question: who will join the
Royals rotation? Currently, there are 8 candidates: Kirk Rueter, Mike
Grace, Rheal Cormier, Armando Reynoso, Arthur Rhodes, Pete Harnisch and
Jack McDowell. Chances are it, won't be decided until spring training.
As a side note, Dick Collins was also traded to Spokane.
And because Peter Carbonetto was so hot on the phone, he subsequently dealt
rebuilding project southpaw Terry Mulholland to New Diggens for reliever
Scott Service.
Quotables:
"Collins who?"
-- Gary Carter.
"We are going to ROCK YOUR WORLD, Phil!... Man, I haven't heard that
expression in a long time." (chuckles from the media)
-- Royals GM Peter Carbonetto
"He's no Johnny Bench!"
-- PVBL President and Hall of Fame commitee member Matt Peck, on why
Royals manager Gary Carter was not voted into the Hall of Fame.
