As part of Saturday’s early-morning trade, the Yankees sent pitcher Ted Lilly and two top prospects to the Athletics, who moved first baseman Carlos Pena to the Tigers.
Earlier this week, the AL East-leading Yankees acquired star right fielder Raul Mondesi from Toronto for a Double-A reliever.
To get Weaver, the Yankees gave up more.
“We had to seize the moment and acquire one of the best young starters in
baseball,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “We’re a
pitching-oriented organization. Pitching is what’s going to make or break
us.”
Weaver, a 25-year-old right-hander who started Detroit’s last two season openers, is 6-8 with a 3.18 ERA this season on a Tigers team that is 30-53. He had been linked to several teams in trade speculation.
“I think everyone heard the rumors,” Weaver said. “The opportunity to go from last to first in a day is quite interesting in itself.”
Weaver joins a New York rotation that already includes Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, David Wells and Orlando Hernandez — one that is so strong that it had reduced now-injured Sterling Hitchcock to a reliever and spot starter.
“It’s a nice problem to have. You never have too much pitching,” Cashman said.
Clemens, Hernandez and Wells are all over 35 and have missed starts this year. Earlier Friday, the Yankees scratched Clemens from his scheduled start against Toronto on Sunday and said Lilly would take his place.
“We had one opportunity to acquire Weaver, who I have been interested in since spring training. He’s signed through 2005 to a deal that fits well into our budget. It’s a very affordable deal,” Cashman said.
Weaver was still at Fenway Park, where Detroit defeated Boston 9-5. He was eager to put on pinstripes as part of a talented staff and is scheduled to start Sunday’s first-half finale.
“Those are people to learn from. I can’t wait to sit next to those guys on the bench, and hopefully be an impact for a long time,” he said.
Weaver makes $2.35 million this season and has a three-year extension that calls for salaries of at least $4.15 million in 2003, $6.25 million in 2004 and $9.25 million in 2005.
Lilly, a 26-year-old left-hander, is 3-6 with a 3.40 ERA in 11 starts and two relief appearances. On April 27 he pitched a one-hitter in a 1-0 loss at Seattle and on June 22 he pitched a three-hitter at San Diego for his first major league shutout.
“Lilly kept us on even keel the way he’s pitched for us,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said after Friday night’s 6-3 win over Toronto.
Pena, 24, was traded from Texas to Oakland last offseason. He began the year as Jason Giambi’s replacement and got off to a torrid start, becoming the AL Rookie of the Month for April. But he tailed off and was sent back to Triple-A in late May, batting .218 with seven homers and 16 RBIs.
Detroit also acquired minor league right-hander Franklyn German and a player to be named from Oakland. German was 1-1 with 16 saves for Double-A Midland and is on the world team roster for Sunday’s All-Star Futures Game at Milwaukee.
In addition to Lilly, the A’s got minor league outfielder John-Ford Griffin and right-hander Jason Arnold from the Yankees, taken in the first two rounds of the 2001 draft.
“Ted Lilly is someone we’ve tried to get for the last several years,” A’s general manager Billy Beane said. “It’s a success for us for a number of reasons. We get a major league pitcher and we get top picks from the Yankees.”
Lilly had left Yankee Stadium by the time the trade was announced at 12:30 a.m. EDT.
New York, seeking its fifth World Series title and sixth AL pennant since 1996, was 54-31 at the time of the trade, the best record in the league and the second-best in baseball behind Atlanta (55-31).
“It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish,” owner George Steinbrenner said about an hour before the deal was announced, “and I think we’re coming along OK.”
