Delmon Young was traded by Tampa Bay to the Minnesota Twins last night as part of a six-player deal that sent righthander Matt Garza to the Rays.
In a swap of talented youngsters, the Twins also gave up starting shortstop Jason Bartlett and minor league pitcher Eduardo Morlan while acquiring shortstop Brendan Harris and minor league outfielder Jason Pridie.
After losing All-Star center fielder Torii Hunter to a $90 million, five-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels, the Twins were in dire need of another proven outfielder. Young, runner-up for American League Rookie of the Year, batted .288 with 13 homers and 93 RBIs.
Young has a rather hotheaded history for a 22-year-old. The first overall pick in the 2003 draft famously flipped his bat into the chest of a Triple A umpire in 2006, receiving a 50-game suspension. He got a three-game ban in 2005 for bumping an umpire in Double A.
"I've grown up a lot over the last couple of years," Young said.
Garza gives the Rays a legitimate starter. One of the game's top prospects, he went 5-7 with a 3.69 ERA in 16 appearances, 15 starts.
Lara can't be moved
Injuries sustained by Cleveland Indians reliever Juan Lara in a weekend car accident make it too dangerous to move him from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to the United States for treatment, a team spokesman said. The 26-year-old lefthander, who remains hospitalized in critical condition, suffered a fractured spine, severe brain trauma, two broken ribs, and a punctured lung in the crash Saturday night. "For now, he can't be moved because of his condition, but we're taking all the necessary measures so he recovers," said Winston Llenas, the team's representative in the Dominican . . . Hunter had a news conference with the Angels even before completing his contract. He was introduced along with righthander Jon Garland, who was acquired in a trade with the Chicago White Sox. Hunter reached a preliminary agreement Nov. 21 but has yet to finalize the deal . . . St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa pleaded guilty yesterday to driving under the influence eight months ago in Jupiter, Fla. La Russa will serve at least six months' probation, pay a $678.50 fine, complete DUI school and any recommended treatment, and complete 50 hours of community service.Cordero pact complete
The National League's worst bullpen got a new closer when Francisco Cordero and the Cincinnati Reds finalized a $46 million, four-year contract. Cordero's agreement is the largest for a Reds reliever. The 32-year-old righthander was second in the NL with 44 saves and a 2.98 ERA last season for the Milwaukee Brewers . . . Reliever Scott Linebrink and the Chicago White Sox finalized their $19 million, four-year contract . . . Jason Kendall finalized a one-year, $4.25 million free agent contract with the Brewers . . . Japanese reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta has agreed to a $6 million, two-year contract with the Kansas City Royals . . . Reliever Brian Stokes was acquired by the New York Mets from the Rays for cash. The 28-year-old righthander was 2-7 with a 7.07 ERA in 59 games for Tampa Bay . . . The Rays formally unveiled plans to replace Tropicana Field with an open-air waterfront ballpark with a retractable roof.
