PHOENIX, Arizona, 16 November 2003 — In a trade announced at the general manager meetings, the San Francisco Giants acquired All-Star catcher A.J. Pierzynski and a player to be named from the Twins for reliever Joe Nathan and minor league pitchers Boof Bonser and Francisco Liriano.
Sabean, the Giants’ general manager, was seeking to replace 38-year-old Benito Santiago behind the plate and pounced on the chance to acquire Pierzynski, who hit .312 with 11 homers and 74 RBI for the Twins last season and is eligible for arbitration. “You can never pass the opportunity to add a young left-handed hitting catcher who has been an All-Star and owns postseason experience,” Sabean said. “A.J. is a young man who’s just coming into his prime and we’re excited about adding a quality left-handed bat to our lineup.”
The Giants lost a left-handed bat and a switch-hitter when they declined to exercise the options on the contracts of J.T. Snow and Jose Cruz Jnr. last month.
Pierzynski, 26, has been Minnesota’s starting catcher for the last three seasons and likely will earn at least $2.5 million in arbitration. He is a career .301 hitter in 430 games with Minnesota.
Along with saving money, the Twins cleared the position for Joe Mauer, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 draft.
Twins general manager Terry Ryan has three key free agents he would like to re-sign — left fielder Shannon Stewart, closer Eddie Guardado and set-up man LaTroy Hawkins — and needs to clear salary to make that possible.
Pitching Coach Stottlemyre Commits to Yankees for 2004
Mel Stottlemyre confirmed that he will be back for another year as New York Yankees’ pitching coach.
His commitment to a ninth year in the job will be welcome news to head coach Joe Torre, who has witnessed sweeping staff changes since New York’s upset loss to Florida in the World Series last month.
“I held my breath like everyone else and I could not be happier that Mel will be back in 2004,” Torre said.
“I talked to Mel twice on Thursday and think he’s very happy to be back and glad the waiting is over.” Stottlemyre’s return may keep Yankees ace pitcher Andy Pettitte from testing the free agency market and could pave the way for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Curt Schilling to head to New York.
The changes at New York have seen bench coach Don Zimmer replaced by third base coach Willie Randolph, Luis Sojo moved to third and Roy White take over at first base.
Former first base coach Lee Mazzilli headed to Baltimore to become manager there.
