Dodgers Swing Another Big Trade

The Los Angeles Dodgers bolstered themselves for a wild-card run by making another big trade last night. The Dodgers got Carlos Perez, Mark Grudzielanek and a prospect from Montreal for second baseman Wilton Guerrero and three minor-leaguers.

The Expos got pitcher Ted Lilly, outfielder Peter Bergeron and first baseman Jonathan Tucker in addition to Guerrero. The Dodgers also got minor-league outfielder Hiram Bocachica.

"They went for the prospects," Dodger General Manager Tommy Lasorda said. "We went for the guys who can help us right now."

Perez was 7-10 with a 3.75 earned-run average in 23 starts. Grudzielanek, 28, who tied the major-league record for doubles by a shortstop with 54 last season, was batting .276 with eight homers and 41 runs batted in.

The switch-hitting Guerrero, 23, joins his brother, Vladimir, with the Expos.

The Dodgers have made several major moves this season. They've traded away Mike Piazza, Hideo Nomo and Todd Zeile and acquired Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla, Charles Johnson and Jeff Shaw.

"We've got to get this club into the playoffs," Lasorda said.

Since spring training, Grudzielanek has said he wasn't going to be back next season and has lamented the departures of other star players.

"I know I said some things in the past and might have complained before, but they were very honest with me and that's what I'll remember," Grudzielanek said. "But I'm looking forward to going to L.A. I'm a bit nervous."

Both Grudzielanek, who was pulled from Friday night's game against San Diego, and Perez could be seen hugging their teammates as they walked from the dugout to the clubhouse.

In all, 13 trades were made involving 45 players, including 23 major-leaguers. Trades can still be made this season, but they will require players to pass through waivers, often a risky proposition.

OTHER TRADES

-- The Milwaukee Brewers acquired left-handed pitcher Bill Pulsipher from the New York Mets for minor-league infielder Mike Kinkade.

Pulsipher, 24, was 0-0 with a 6.91 ERA for the Mets this season in 15 games. His lone start was against the Brewers on July 22 at County Stadium. He pitched four innings, his longest outing this season.

Kinkade, 25, was hitting .310 for Class AAA Louisville with seven homers and 46 RBI. He was the Texas League player of the year last season, hitting .385 with 12 homers and 109 RBI for El Paso.

"We just felt like we needed to get some arms and some guys who can pitch a little bit," Brewer General Manager Sal Bando said.

-- Baltimore, eight games behind Boston in the AL wild-card chase, acquired Juan Guzman from Toronto for pitcher Nerio Rodriguez and minor-league outfielder Shannon Carter.

Guzman, 31, was 6-12 with a 4.41 ERA. "I'm happy, I'm going to see my buddy Robbie there," he said of Roberto Alomar.

-- The San Francisco Giants, bidding for the NL wild-card spot, traded Darryl Hamilton, minor-league pitcher James Stoops and a player to be named to Colorado for Ellis Burks in a swap of 33-year-old outfielders. "I heard about it in the dugout. Guys were all around me congratulating me," Burks said.

Burks was batting .286 with 16 homers and 54 RBI. Hamilton was batting .294 with one homer and 26 RBI.

-- In a swap of slumping players, the New York Mets traded outfielder Bernard Gilkey to Arizona for Willie Blair, who leads the majors in losses.

As part of the deal, New York also sent minor league pitcher Nelson Figueroa and cash to the Diamondbacks. The Mets also will receive catcher Jorge Fabregas and a player to be named.

Gilkey, 31, was hitting .227 in 82 games. He suffered a stress fracture in his left elbow early this year and was on the disabled list from April 26 to May 11.

"He never got it going again after his elbow injury," Mets General Manager Steve Phillips said.

Gilkey is in the second year of a $20.4 million, four-year contract. Blair, 32, signed an $11.5 million, three-year contract with Arizona last winter after going 16-8 with a 4.17 ERA for Detroit in 1997.

Blair was just 4-15 with a 5.34 ERA in 23 starts for the Diamondbacks.

-- The Mets, looking for a leadoff man, got Tony Phillips from Toronto for minor-league pitcher Leoncio Ramirez Estrella.

-- The Chicago Cubs obtained reliever Felix Heredia and minor-league pitcher Steve Hoff from Florida for third baseman Kevin Orie and minor-league pitchers Todd Noel and Justin Speier.

-- The Boston Red Sox acquired pitcher Greg Swindell and first baseman/outfielder Orlando Merced from Minnesota. The Red Sox sent three minor-leaguers to the Twins: right-hander Matt Kinney and left-handers Joe Thomas and John Barnes.

Swindell, who pitched one inning in Minnesota's 6-4 loss to Toronto last night, is 3-3 with a 3.66 earned-run average. Merced is hitting .289 with five homers and 33 RBI.

-- The Blue Jays traded third baseman Ed Sprague to the Athletics for minor-league pitcher Scott Rivette.

-- The Sox traded pitcher Joe Hudson to the Milwaukee Brewers for infielder Eddy Diaz.

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Trades at a glance

-- Dodgers traded 2B Wilton Guerrero (.283, 0 HR, 7 RBI), minor-league OF Peter Bergeron, 1B Jonathan Tucker and LHP Ted Lilly to Expos for SS Mark Grudzielanek (.276, 8, 41), LHP Carlos Perez (7-10, 3.75 ERA) and minor-league OF Hiram Bocachica.

-- Rangers traded LHP Darren Oliver (6-7, 6.53) and 3B Fernando Tatis (.270, 3, 32) to Cardinals for RHP Todd Stottlemyre (9-9, 3.51) and SS Royce Clayton (.234, 4, 29).

-- Marlins traded 3B Todd Zeile (.276, 13, 66) to Rangers for minor-league 3B Jose Santo and RHP Daniel DeYoung.

-- Blue Jays traded RHP Juan Guzman (6-12, 4.41) to Orioles for RHP Nerio Rodriguez (1-3, 8.05) and minor-league OF Shannon Carter.

-- Rockies traded OF Ellis Burks (.286, 16, 54) to Giants for OF Darryl Hamilton (.294, 1, 26), minor-league RHP James Stoops and a player to be named.

-- Mets traded OF Bernard Gilkey (.227, 4, 28), RHP Nelson Figueroa and cash to Diamondbacks for RHP Willie Blair (4-15, 5.34), C Jorge Fabregas (.199, 4, 15) and a player to be named.

-- Marlins traded LHP Felix Heredia (0-3, 5.49, 2 saves) and minor-league P Steve Hoff to Cubs for 3B Kevin Orie (.181, 2, 21) and minor-league P Todd Noel and P Justin Speier.

-- Mets traded LHP Bill Pulsipher (0-0, 6.91 ERA) to Brewers for minor-league INF Mike Kinkade.

-- Twins traded P Greg Swindell (3-3, 3.66 ERA) and 1B/OF Orlando Merced (.289, 5 HRs, 33 RBI) to Red Sox for minor-league RHP Matt Kinney and LHP Joe Thomas and John Barnes.

-- The Blue Jays traded 3B Ed Sprague (.238, 17, 51) to the A's for minor-league P Scott Rivette.