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Yankees Fill Need, Acquire Pudge From Detroit

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 31, 2008

NEW YORK - Ivan Rodriguez was the steady hand for the Florida Marlins when they won the 2003 World Series. A year later, he was the spark that helped turn around the Detroit franchise when nobody wanted to be a Tiger.

The Yankees hope he can be a little of both during their push to the playoffs.

The Yankees acquired the 14-time All-Star from the Tigers on Wednesday for hard-throwing reliever Kyle Farnsworth, a trade that filled glaring holes for both contenders.

"Honestly, I was shocked by this, but that's baseball," Rodriguez said. "Now, I'm just looking forward to playing for the Yankees and maybe I will play against Detroit again in the playoffs."

In the option year of a $50 million deal he signed with the Tigers in February 2004, Rodriguez will step into the hole in the Yankees' lineup created by Jorge Posada's shoulder injury. Posada had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Wednesday and is out for the season.

The 36-year-old Rodriguez, who has won the Gold Glove award 13 times, was hitting .295 with five homers in 82 games this season.

Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente and Rodriguez are the only three players in baseball history with at least 12 Gold Gloves and a career .300 average or better. Rodriguez has caught 2,142 games, trailing only Carlton Fisk (2,226) and Bob Boone (2,225) in terms of longevity behind the plate.

"He's still an everyday guy," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "He's an upgrade in spite of everything we've got."

Rodriguez has said he wants to play next season and beyond, but for now is focusing solely on helping the Yankees catch Tampa Bay and Boston.

The Yankees also traded reliever LaTroy Hawkins to the Astros on Wednesday for minor-league infielder Matt Cusick.

Hawkins was 1-1 with a 5.71 ERA in 33 appearances this season for the Yankees, who designated him for assignment Saturday after acquiring outfielder Xavier Nady and reliever Damaso Marte in a trade with Pittsburgh.

ATHLETICS: Rookie reliever Brad Ziegler stretched his scoreless-inning streak to 30 - extending the major-league record to begin a career - with a handful of assists Wednesday.

Ziegler pitched three shutout innings in Oakland's 4-3 loss to Kansas City. All three innings ended with double plays.

Ziegler was promoted from Triple-A on May 30 and previously broke the scoreless streak record of 25 set by George McQuillan of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1907.

BLUE JAYS: Scott Rolen plans to skip some games and cut back on his batting practice while undergoing an "extensive" rehab program for his surgically repaired left shoulder.

Rolen was held out of the lineup Wednesday as Toronto wrapped up a three-game series against Tampa Bay. He is hitless in 17 at bats, has not homered since June 26 and is batting .163 in July.

CUBS: Closer Kerry Wood had another setback Wednesday when the blister on his right index finger prevented him from throwing a simulated game.

The All-Star hurler was scheduled to throw a simulated game before Chicago took on the Milwaukee Brewers in the third game of a four-game series.

Wood was eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday, but the right-hander hasn't recovered from the blister that's kept him out since July 11.

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