Rangers acquire Stottlemyre, Clayton from Cards

Rangers Acquire Stottlemyre, Clayton from Cards

Reported By: Webmaster Sibs on 8/1/98

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers are serious about winning this year, no matter the price -- both in dollars and young talent.

General manager Doug Melvin made that obvious Friday by trading 23-year-old third baseman Fernando Tatis, 27-year-old left-hander Darren Oliver and two minor leaguers for three high-salaried veterans.

In separate deals, Melvin dealt Tatis, Oliver and a player to be named to St. Louis for shortstop Royce Clayton and pitcher Todd Stottlemyre. Texas gave up two prospects, third baseman Jose Santo and pitcher Dan DeYoung, to Florida for third baseman Todd Zeile.

The result is a new left side of the infield (Zeile and Clayton, instead of Tatis and Kevin Elster, who was released), a likely No. 1 starter in Stottlemyre and a payroll jump to nearly $60 million.

The deals, which Melvin said were contingent on each other, are risky, especially for a team that went into Friday night's game against the White Sox second in the AL West and even farther behind in the wild-card race.

Clayton and Stottlemyre are free agents after this season and Zeile has only one year left on his contract. That means Texas could have no players left from this trade by 2000, about the same time the former Rangers could be blossoming.

"I wish we would have played better up to the trading deadline and wouldn't have had to make these moves," Melvin said. "But I think ... you have to put your best foot forward and help the club when you're this close."

Melvin said the deals should not hurt the team's future, noting that he held onto top prospect Ruben Mateo and he didn't disrupt the major-league team's nucleus.

"I don't think we're in a total situation where we're strictly looking short-term," he said. Texas' payroll was already at $55.6 million, but it will jump by as much as $4 million as all three newcomers make at least $3.2 million this year, more than Oliver and Tatis combined.

It's a clear indication that new owner Tom Hicks is willing to spend money to make the team a winner, just as he's done with the NHL's Dallas Stars.

"It's helpful to have that kind of support," said Melvin, who earlier in July added pitcher Esteban Loaiza, who will make $1,425,000 next year. "I've had it in the past, but this is a bigger chunk than what we've taken on in the past."

Melvin said he would not discuss new contracts for Clayton and Stottlemyre until after the season.

"Our purpose is to get them here," Melvin said. "We'll deal with that later."

The upgrade in the rotation is the biggest help for Texas. Rick Helling and Aaron Sele had great first halves, but are fading and John Burkett has struggled all season.

Oliver, 27-18 over the last two years, was 6-7 with a 6.53 ERA this year and 140 hits in 103 1/3 innings.

Stottlemyre, 33, is 9-9 with a 3.51 ERA. His 147 strikeouts are far more than any Rangers and he's worked seven or more innings in 16 of his 23 starts.

"He's a real competitor," Melvin said. "I told him he was probably pitching against Boston next weekend and he said, 'Good.' "

The position players help Texas both in the field and at the plate. Elster and Tatis were the bottom two in manager Johnny Oates' lineup and they had combined for just 69 RBI. Elster was surehanded but had limited range at shortstop. Tatis led the club with 15 errors.

Zeile has 66 RBI along with 13 homers and a .276 average. Clayton is hitting 20 points below his career average at .234, but he has 19 steals, one away from a fifth straight 20-steal season, and has superb range.
"He can help improve our pitching somewhat through his defense," Melvin said.

Zeile finally feels settled after spending 2½ months waiting to be traded by the Marlins, who acquired him and Mike Piazza from Los Angeles in May.
"I can't think of a better (situation) than what has occurred," said Zeile, who will be playing for his seventh team since 1995. "To jump into the heat of a pennant race on a team with guys I've been around is ideal for me."

Melvin considered doing even more, but the asking price for Roger Clemens was too high. "I got the message loud and clear that it would be expensive," he said.

He previously dropped out of the bidding for Carlos Perez and Tim Belcher, and backed out of a deal for Juan Guzman on Friday after acquiring Stottlemyre.

"I think we're better today than yesterday," Melvin said. "I do believe we're better."

Because Clayton, Zeile and Stottlemyre weren't likely to join the team until Saturday, Texas called up third baseman Rob Sasser and right-hander Dan Smith from Double-A Tulsa. More moves are necessary Saturday to make room for the newcomers.