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Trade Is Good For Both Sides

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By MARC LANCASTER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 19, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Yes, Delmon Young and Brendan Harris have noticed what their former team is doing.

"Yeah - especially the last month-and-a-half, two months, when things have gotten close and they've hung tough," Harris said. "It's been fun to watch."

And hard to miss.

"You've got no choice," Young said. "They're on every ESPN game."

Plenty has changed since the last time Young and Harris played at Tropicana Field, and the trade that sent them to Minnesota last fall gets plenty of credit for the Rays' rise. Dealing those two and minor-league outfielder Jason Pridie - a September call-up who is also here this weekend - for Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett and minor-league reliever Eduardo Morlan certainly altered the complexion of the Rays' roster.

In terms of the impact the newcomers have made on their respective clubs, it's probably fair to say the edge goes to the Rays simply because the Twins already had a core of players who had been this far before. But neither side believes somebody got a steal.

"The reason that this trade worked out for both sides was that we matched up the strengths and weaknesses of each of our respective organizations," Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said. "I feel strongly that we would not be in the position we're in right now without Garza and Bartlett. Conversely, I think the same can possibly be said for Minnesota."

Harris has seen his playing time fluctuate at various infield spots this season, but he has been productive at the plate with a .263 average, 27 doubles and seven homers.

Young has come on strong after a rough start at the plate. Through the first two months of the season, he had not hit a home run and had only 15 RBIs, but he entered Thursday hitting .301 with nine homers and 49 RBIs since June 1.

Does he find it ironic the Rays have spent so much time this season seeking a right-handed-hitting right fielder?

"That right-handed outfielder got them Garza, so ... I think it worked out fine," Young said.

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