TRADE - Baltimore Looking to Boost Bullpen

In a deal that should help both teams involved, Baltimore and Atlanta completed a four-player swap with the Stouts sending OF Ruben Mateo and lefty reliever Steve Kline to the Stonecutters in exchange for OF Alberte Belle and right-handed reliever Felix Rodriguez.  The deal was made in an effort by both teams to shore up positions of weakness.

For Atlanta, they get the left-handed reliever in Kline that the team was sorely lacking.  So far on the young season, Kline had been a disappointment out of the Baltimore bullpen.  After being selected as the Stouts first reliever, Kline was 0-2 with a 9.92 ERA and four blown saves in 17 appearances.  He did save two games though, and historically he has several effective years to come.

Mateo brings the OF depth to the Stonecutters that they need, and a guy who can hit right-handed pitching.  Recently acquired by the Stouts, this will be his third team on the young season.  For Baltimore, he hit .389 with a pair of doubles in only 18 ABs.


Coming to the Stouts is a pitcher in Rodriguez who can hopefully be the setup reliever the team has been searching for all year.  He has struggled, like Kline, in the early going.  For Atlanta, he posted an 0-2 record, going 1-1 in save chances and sporting a 6.10 ERA.  But like Kline, more is expected from him, and he has some pretty effective years going forward.  His job in Baltimore will be to get the ball to Armando Benitez in the 9th.

Also into the fold is Albert Belle.  While the sluggers best years are clearly behind him, his acquisition provides insurance in the outfield in the event brittle Larry Walker goes down to injury.  He can also play as the right-handed platoon with Lance Berkman in LF.  Belle is slow, a terrible fielder and probably a terrible teammate, but he can certainly hit.  Another bat for the already potent Stouts lineup.