OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Expansion Revision: 1998 Devil Rays and beyond

Moriarty9 · 12-07-2008, 10:59 PM

MLB officially expands with draft
Aguilera, Sele coming to Tampa Bay
October 29, 1997

NEW YORK – The Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays had their welcoming party today during an expansion draft at Major League Baseball’s headquarters.
The two rookie clubs filled their rosters from a pool of “unprotected” players from all across the league. The Diamondbacks opened the expansion draft by selecting left-handed starting pitcher Denny Neagle, who went 15-8 with a 3.96 ERA in 31 starts for the Atlanta Braves this season. The Devil Rays made reliever Danny Graves their first pick. Graves, 24, spent this season in Cleveland’s AAA affiliate, going 4-3 with 19 saves and a 2.43 ERA in 55 2/3 innings of work.
Other notable players on the move due to the expansion draft are pitchers Aaron Sele and Rick Aguilera to Tampa Bay, and Hideo Nomo and Tom Gordon to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

12-07-2008, 10:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,855 Thanks: 9 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	MLB officially expands with draft Aguilera, Sele coming to Tampa Bay October 29, 1997 NEW YORK – The Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays had their welcoming party today during an expansion draft at Major League Baseball’s headquarters. The two rookie clubs filled their rosters from a pool of “unprotected” players from all across the league. The Diamondbacks opened the expansion draft by selecting left-handed starting pitcher Denny Neagle, who went 15-8 with a 3.96 ERA in 31 starts for the Atlanta Braves this season. The Devil Rays made reliever Danny Graves their first pick. Graves, 24, spent this season in Cleveland’s AAA affiliate, going 4-3 with 19 saves and a 2.43 ERA in 55 2/3 innings of work. Other notable players on the move due to the expansion draft are pitchers Aaron Sele and Rick Aguilera to Tampa Bay, and Hideo Nomo and Tom Gordon to the Arizona Diamondbacks.