(AP) WASHINGTON--All along, Washington GM Aaron Weiner
has been asking team owner A. L. Weiner for permission
to trade prospects for more offense.
Yesterday, the owner relented, and Washington dealt
top pitching prospect Art Cliburn, long-term prospect
Randy Davis, backup catcher Eddie Taubensee and their
first-round free-agent draft pick to Mississauga for
star catcher Dave Nilsson.
"You think I'm happy?" GM Weiner asked the media at
the press conference announcing the trade. "You
haven't seen happy yet."
Nilsson, an All-Star catcher for several years, is
having another banner season. In 80 games, Nilsson is
hitting .307 with 20 homers and 50 RBI.
"We felt that catcher was one of the positions we
needed to upgrade, and that there was no better way to
do it than with Nilsson," Weiner said.
The only less productive position than catcher this
season for the Sea Dogs has been shortstop this
season, and Taubensee, brought in last year to try to
sure up the catcher position, had lost his job to
journeyman Bill Lesley.
"This is a bitter pill for me," Taubensee said,
"though I'm going to a good organization in
Mississauga. I was hoping to turn it around in
Washington."
Nilsson himself hopes to be a catalyst for the Sea
Dogs' success.
"I'm hoping that I can get in here and help solidify
the offense," Nilsson said. "We've got a lot of
offensive talent here, and I think I can make us
better."
Weiner said that more changes may be on the way, but
for right now, the Sea Dogs look very formidable going
into the dog days of August.
"We might try to work out another deal pretty soon,"
Weiner said, "but I don't know for sure. A lot could
happen in the next few weeks."
Rumor has it that if Washington were to make a deal,
it is likely that centerfielder Eric Young would be
involved. Young has performed well this season, but
Weiner feels that he is being wasted in center field.
"He's a very good second baseman," Weiner said, "but
we have the best in baseball. He wasn't very happy
with the position change at first, but he's settling
down with it and we hope he'll play at his usual level
over the last few months."
Washington's record is 76-42 (.644) at the time of the
trade; Mississauga is 57-61 (.483).
