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Mets deal Ventura to Yankees for Justice
espn.com ^ | 12/7/01 | ESPN.com news services

Posted on 12/07/2001 11:36:49 AM PST by NYCVirago

NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees made a rare deal with the crosstown Mets on Friday, trading outfielder David Justice for third baseman Robin Ventura.

The trade is the first in more than eight years between the teams and the first involving major leaguers since 1992. The teams have exchanged players only six times since the Mets began play in 1962.

"It's kind of weird to be traded from the Yankees to the Mets with the rivalry and all of that," Justice said. "I'm at that point of my career where you can always be traded at any minute. I'm happy to go to the Mets. There are far worse teams be traded to."

The deal satisfies needs for both teams. With the retirement of Scott Brosius, the Yankees were in need of a stopgap at third base until heralded prospect Drew Henson is ready to take over.

"It was obvious that we had a void to fill at third base in 2002," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "It is our belief that Robin -- with his left-handed bat and on-base average -- was our best option."

The Yankees also signed reliever Steve Karsay to a four-year contract worth about $22.25 million on Friday. The deal includes a club option for a fifth year.

The Mets struggled offensively last season and scored the fewest runs in baseball. They were also second-to-last in the NL in home runs. Mets right fielders hit .240 with just 15 homers and 61 RBI last season.

"He's been a very successful offensive player and his postseason experience speaks for itself," Mets general manager Steve Phillips said. "He has a knack for being on teams that get to the postseason. He's a big part of that is his contributions on those clubs."

Justice, whose teams have reached the past 10 postseasons, will provide the Mets with the left-handed power hitter they've been seeking to protect Mike Piazza. Justice has 294 career homers, including a career-high 41 in 2000 for Cleveland and the Yankees.

Justice, 35, struggled last season, going on the disabled list twice for an injured right groin, and batted just .241 with 18 homers and 51 RBI.

"I've got a lot left," he said. "Last year was based solely on injuries, no doubt about it. I still have my bat speed and still have my defensive skills. I don't feel like I've gone down at all. Injuries played a part."

Ventura liked the trade, too.

"I'm still in the same city, living in the same place. I kind of like my scenery," he said. "Maybe a change of teams and situations will do that. Only time will tell."

Ventura, 34, batted .237 with 21 homers and 61 RBI for the Mets last season. He is a solid fielder and a clutch hitter, especially with the bases loaded. His 15 career grand slams are the most of any active player and ninth all-time.

His career on-base percentage of .364 is 41 points higher than Brosius' as the Yankees are making a concerted effort to improve their ability to reach base.

They are also close to a deal with first baseman Jason Giambi, who has led the AL in on-base the past two seasons.

There was no money exchanged in the deal. The Yankees will pay Ventura's $8.25 million salary in 2002 and the Mets will pay Justice $7 million. Both players are eligible for free agency after next season.

The Yankees and Mets hadn't made a trade since Sept. 17, 1993, when the Mets traded Frank Tanana for minor league pitcher Kenny Greer. In 1992, the Mets traded pitcher Tim Burke to the Yankees for reliever Lee Guetterman.


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As a Yankee fan, I don't like this trade much. Justice and Ventura both had horrible seasons, but I think Justice has a better chance of bouncing back next season than Ventura does. For you non-baseball fans out there, David Justice is the ex-husband of Halle Berry.
1 posted on 12/07/2001 11:36:49 AM PST by NYCVirago
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To: Fulbright; Sabertooth; BluesDuke; KLT; GreatOne; dead; John H K; F16Fighter; Twins613
Pinging you...
2 posted on 12/07/2001 11:39:48 AM PST by NYCVirago
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To: NYCVirago
Justice said,: "I've got a lot left," he said. "Last year was based solely on injuries, no doubt about it. I still have my bat speed and still have my defensive skills...."

Oh really?

3 posted on 12/07/2001 11:40:19 AM PST by Pokey78
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To: NYCVirago
And the Yankees keep their ex-Brave factor steady by signing Steve Karsay. Too bad you didn't snap up Paul Bako, too. ;-)
4 posted on 12/07/2001 11:43:32 AM PST by Leroy S. Mort
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To: NYCVirago
For you non-baseball fans out there, David Justice is the ex-husband of Halle Berry.

And Robin Ventura once decided to charge the mound when Big Tex, Nolan Ryan, brushed him back.

Ryan held his neck with one hand and beat him over the head with the other.

Ryan was 42 at the time; Ventura was in his late twenties.

It was a wonderful thing to watch.

5 posted on 12/07/2001 11:44:20 AM PST by sinkspur
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To: sinkspur
I was telling a friend a few months ago about Nolan's noogie attack, and did a web search for pictures of it. Anyhow, both the Dallas Morning News and Houston Chronicle had it listed as one of the highlights of Ryan's career!
6 posted on 12/07/2001 11:46:32 AM PST by NYCVirago
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To: NYCVirago
Boy, for a second there, I thought maybe the Yankees signed Jessie Ventura.
7 posted on 12/07/2001 11:48:56 AM PST by SoDak
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To: Pokey78
Don't you love it? Dave is to defense as the Mets are to winning. They will be a perfect match. Yanks get a solid player, Mets get an idiot, save a million bucks and think they got the better end of the deal. DOH!
8 posted on 12/07/2001 11:50:24 AM PST by Gwaihir
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To: Pokey78
Well, Justice isn't exactly a Gold Glove in the outfield, but he's not Jose Canseco either.
9 posted on 12/07/2001 11:52:10 AM PST by NYCVirago
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To: sinkspur
Nolan Ryan Associated Press-->

10 posted on 12/07/2001 11:52:54 AM PST by NittanyLion
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To: Leroy S. Mort
And the Yankees keep their ex-Brave factor steady by signing Steve Karsay. Too bad you didn't snap up Paul Bako, too. ;-)

They had to do something, between not signing Wohlers and trading Justice!

11 posted on 12/07/2001 11:54:00 AM PST by NYCVirago
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To: Leroy S. Mort
I like Karsay. Hate to see him going to the Yanks. If they get Giambi, too, you can hang the banners and pennants now.
12 posted on 12/07/2001 11:55:05 AM PST by Gwaihir
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To: NYCVirago
Great Justice story: I live in Port St. Lucie Fl. which is the spring training site for the N.Y.Mets. I went to a Spring game a few years back and sat about 5 rows back right behind home plate. The Mets were playing the Braves. Justice came up in about the 5th inning and the pitcher went into his windup and I yelled out TRADE BAIT very loud. Justice froze and looked up as the ump called strike. The same thing happened again the pitcher went into his windup and I yelled out TRADE BAIT and again he froze. He ended up striking out and again in the 7th or 8th. The next morning the sports headline was Justice traded to Cleveland. One of the two biggest buttholees in baseball.
13 posted on 12/07/2001 12:11:34 PM PST by Joe Boucher
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To: NittanyLion
Hit him Nolen, Hit him.
14 posted on 12/07/2001 12:12:24 PM PST by Joe Boucher
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To: NYCVirago
Thanks for the ping.

Good news for the Yanks! Trade away one left-handed hitter, sign another off the free agent market. Nothing wrong with that (unless, of course, you're also a Twins fan, like me, and this is what is helping to kill the chances of keeping your hometown team alive. Sigh . . . conflicts, conflicts).

15 posted on 12/07/2001 12:13:35 PM PST by GreatOne
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To: Pokey78
What defensive skills is Justice speaking of? He has never, ever been ranked in the top 25 in defensive outfielders at any point in his career. His bat handling comes and goes to.

Ventura is twice the player Justice never was. He may have some current health problems, but this is just a dumb trade.

16 posted on 12/07/2001 12:14:08 PM PST by FreeTally
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To: FreeTally
What defensive skills is Justice speaking of?

The ability to run 15 feet and make a sliding-on-your-butt catch of a pop up when any other outfielder would have had no trouble.

17 posted on 12/07/2001 12:17:51 PM PST by Pokey78
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To: GreatOne
I like the trade. I think both sides did well.
18 posted on 12/07/2001 12:18:44 PM PST by Huck
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To: Leroy S. Mort
Too bad you didn't snap up Paul Bako, too

No kidding. I don't believe that they have any intentions of signing another catcher, even if Javy does slip away.

19 posted on 12/07/2001 12:23:34 PM PST by AlGone2001
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To: sinkspur
Ryan held his neck with one hand and beat him over the head with the other.

Nolan Ryan is the bomb. I remember that well. That man kicked his A$$.

20 posted on 12/07/2001 12:32:25 PM PST by NC Conservative
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