 05/09/2003 9:21 PM ET
Notes: Rangers acquire Benes
Perry to be activated Saturday; Sierra day-to-day
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By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com
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ARLINGTON -- In a move designed to bolster an ailing starting rotation and hopefully rest a well worked bullpen, the Rangers acquired right-handed veteran Alan Benes from the Cubs for a player to be named later and will start the veteran against Cleveland on Saturday.
To make room for Benes, the Rangers optioned pitcher Ryan Drese to Triple-A Oklahoma.
"I couldn't be happier to be here," Benes said. "I've been saying the last three or four years that I just need an opportunity and somebody to give me the chance to take the ball every fifth day."
Benes compiled a 2.16 ERA in 8 1/3 innings in three relief appearances for the Cubs after being recalled from Iowa on April 16. He was designated for assignment by the Cubs on Monday to make room on the roster for Antonio Alfonseca.
"I'm just happy for the opportunity," he said. "Anytime a club trades for you, it's a good sign that they like what you can bring to them."
Benes is starting in place of injured starter Ismael Valdes. Valdes, who has been on the disabled list since April 20 with tendinitis in his right shoulder, will make a rehab start for Double-A Frisco on Sunday. Chan Ho Park, who is also on the disabled list, will pitch for Frisco on Monday.
"We have two starters, two veteran starters on the disabled list and we felt we could use somebody with experience," Rangers general manager John Hart said. "There is not a lot of those floating around and the Cubs had a surplus there in the rotation and in the bullpen."
The Cardinals' first round selection in the June, 1993 amateur draft, Benes went 13-10 in 32 starts in his first full Major League season with the Cardinals in 1996. He went 9-9 with a 2.89 ERA in 23 starts in 1997 before missing the final two months of that season, all of 1998, and the first four months of 1999 recovering from a pair of right shoulder surgeries.
"I know how to pitch a lot better than I did when I was 24 or 25 years old, I guarantee that," Benes said. "As far as health, I feel great and better than I have in the past."
The Rangers need Benes to pitch at least five or six innings and give their relievers a rest. Entering Friday's game against the Indians, the Texas bullpen had pitched 49 innings in the last 11 games. Friday's starter John Thomson threw 2 1/3 innings before being replaced by R.A. Dickey.
"We're not bringing him in here and advertise him as the staff savior, but there is a lot of upside to the deal," Hart said.
Herbert Perry
/ 3B
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Perry to be activated:
Herbert Perry , who has spent the entire season on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder and bone bruise on his left knee, will be activated on Saturday.
"I'm ready to do what I know I can do," Perry said.
Perry was originally assigned to Double-A Frisco on a rehab assignment on April 3. He hit .250 in six games before straining his left oblique muscle on April 10.
"I've been hitting the ball really well," Perry said. "I know Double-A pitching is not the same as big league pitching, but I just want to do my job."
In his second medical rehab assignment, Perry went 6-for-14 with six RBIs in three games with the Rough Riders. He will play third base, first base or designated hitter for the Rangers.
Ruben Sierra
/ OF
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Around the horn:
Ruben Sierra left Thursday's game with a cramp in his right hamstring and is day-to-day. ...Rangers outfielder Doug Glanville, who is on the disabled list after surgery on tendon behind his right knee, has targeted May 16 in New York as the day he would like to return, but Rangers officials are being careful with the center fielder and do not want to rush him back. ...Alex Rodriguez received the Josh Gibson Legacy Award as the AL home run champion and the Oscar Charleston Legacy Award as the AL's Most Valuable Player from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Major League scout Buck O'Neill presented Rodriguez with the awards. ...Carl's Club, a program designed by Carl Everett that purchases tickets for 50 children, began on Friday. Everett will play host to 50 children every Friday home game at The Ballpark in Arlington.
Jesse Sanchez is a reporter for
MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its
clubs.
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