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Moriarty9 · 04-06-2009, 06:45 PM

Devil Rays make pair of swaps
Hampton sent west, Lo Duca coming to Tampa
March 24, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As spring training winds down and roster decisions become necessary, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays made a pair of trades.

Mike Hampton's Devil Rays career ends after one season but no regular season pitching. Hampton, acquired for Andruw Jones prior to last season, suffered a tricep injury last spring and spent the entire 2000 season on the disabled list. He went 13-10 with a 3.38 ERA in 34 starts for the Houston Astros in 1999 and had been counted on as a big contributer for the 2000 season. He entered this year's spring training as a favorite to be second or third in the Devil Rays rotation but will now be suiting up for the Colorado Rockies.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of pitching at Coors Field," Hampton said. "I really enjoy National League ball and hitting, so its a good fit for me."

In return, Tampa Bay received 23-year-old shortstop Rafael Furcal from the Rockies. Furcal hit .258 with 15 home runs, 70 RBI and 104 runs in 155 games for Colorado last year, but his bat will not be present in Tampa Bay as the club traded him just as soon as they acquired him.

In their second trade of the day, the Devil Rays dealt Furcal to the Astros for catcher Paul Lo Duca and minor league pitcher Ben Weber. Lo Duca, 28, hit .274 with 15 homers and 54 RBI in 84 games last year with Houston. He will likely open the year as the backup for Charles Johnson, a job that had appeared to be all but assured to Jason LaRue this spring.

Weber, 31, is a career minor leaguer but did pitch quite well with Houston's AAA affiliate last year, going 3-4 with four saves and a 1.77 ERA in 61 innings of work out of the bullpen. He will start the year in AAA again this season.

04-06-2009, 06:45 PM	#217 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,858 Thanks: 10 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Devil Rays make pair of swaps Hampton sent west, Lo Duca coming to Tampa March 24, 2001 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As spring training winds down and roster decisions become necessary, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays made a pair of trades. Mike Hampton's Devil Rays career ends after one season but no regular season pitching. Hampton, acquired for Andruw Jones prior to last season, suffered a tricep injury last spring and spent the entire 2000 season on the disabled list. He went 13-10 with a 3.38 ERA in 34 starts for the Houston Astros in 1999 and had been counted on as a big contributer for the 2000 season. He entered this year's spring training as a favorite to be second or third in the Devil Rays rotation but will now be suiting up for the Colorado Rockies. "I'm looking forward to the challenge of pitching at Coors Field," Hampton said. "I really enjoy National League ball and hitting, so its a good fit for me." In return, Tampa Bay received 23-year-old shortstop Rafael Furcal from the Rockies. Furcal hit .258 with 15 home runs, 70 RBI and 104 runs in 155 games for Colorado last year, but his bat will not be present in Tampa Bay as the club traded him just as soon as they acquired him. In their second trade of the day, the Devil Rays dealt Furcal to the Astros for catcher Paul Lo Duca and minor league pitcher Ben Weber. Lo Duca, 28, hit .274 with 15 homers and 54 RBI in 84 games last year with Houston. He will likely open the year as the backup for Charles Johnson, a job that had appeared to be all but assured to Jason LaRue this spring. Weber, 31, is a career minor leaguer but did pitch quite well with Houston's AAA affiliate last year, going 3-4 with four saves and a 1.77 ERA in 61 innings of work out of the bullpen. He will start the year in AAA again this season.