The Wright Move
In late July of 2002 the Blue Jays were nearing the end of the line with outfielder Jose Cruz Jr.
Cruz owned a .227 batting average at the break with 13 homers and 45 RBIs.
Finally, they found someone with interest in Cruz.
The New York Mets said they would take Cruz, offering a minor-leaguer playing his first full season at class-A.
Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi decided against taking the minor-leaguer for Cruz. The Jays also refused the Seattle Mariners' offer of prospect Rafael Soriano for Cruz, after the Mariners refused to move reliever Clint Nageotte.
The Jays held on to Cruz, who finished the 2002 season with a .245 average, 18 homers and 70 RBIs. After the season the Jays decided not to tender Cruz a contract and he signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants.
That class-A kid? Well, it's tough evaluating 19-year-olds as the kid was at the time.
That season at class-A Capital City the kid hit .266 with 11 homers and 93 RBIs. He had 76 walks, 114 strikeouts.
The kid? You may have seen him at Tuesday's all-star game -- and on a hundred or so highlight clips -- as he grew up to be all-star third baseman David Wright.
Cruz owned a .227 batting average at the break with 13 homers and 45 RBIs.
Finally, they found someone with interest in Cruz.
The New York Mets said they would take Cruz, offering a minor-leaguer playing his first full season at class-A.
Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi decided against taking the minor-leaguer for Cruz. The Jays also refused the Seattle Mariners' offer of prospect Rafael Soriano for Cruz, after the Mariners refused to move reliever Clint Nageotte.
The Jays held on to Cruz, who finished the 2002 season with a .245 average, 18 homers and 70 RBIs. After the season the Jays decided not to tender Cruz a contract and he signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants.
That class-A kid? Well, it's tough evaluating 19-year-olds as the kid was at the time.
That season at class-A Capital City the kid hit .266 with 11 homers and 93 RBIs. He had 76 walks, 114 strikeouts.
The kid? You may have seen him at Tuesday's all-star game -- and on a hundred or so highlight clips -- as he grew up to be all-star third baseman David Wright.
posted by Paul at 11:26 AM
2 Comments:
Would you rather have Wright, or Jason Bay and Kazmir?
Is this the same Capital City where Homer Simpson took over for the Famous Capital City Goofball??
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