Press Releases
November 28, 2007
For Immediate Release
Devil Rays PR
(727) 825-3242
RAYS TRADE DELMON YOUNG TO TWINS
The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired right-handed starting pitcher Matt Garza, shortstop Jason Bartlett and minor league right-handed pitcher Eduardo Morlan from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for outfielder Delmon Young, infielder Brendan Harris and outfielder Jason Pridie.
"We have strengthened our team by adding an impact starting pitcher in Garza and an everyday shortstop in Bartlett," said Rays Executive Vice President Andrew Friedman. "We have capitalized on our depth in certain areas to address more pressing areas of need. Because of that, we are now a better ball club."
Garza, who turned 24 on Monday, was Minnesota's number one pick in 2005 (25th overall). He was named Twins Most Outstanding Rookie in 2007 by the Minnesota chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. He led American League rookie pitchers with a 3.69 ERA, while posting a 5-7 record in 16 appearances (15 starts). Garza also made 16 starts for the Rochester Red Wings (AAA) and went 4-6 with a 3.62 ERA. He was promoted from Triple-A on June 29 and remained with the Twins for the rest of the season. He struck out 67 in 83 innings, including a career-high 11 strikeouts on July 29 vs. Cleveland.
Garza was named USA Today Minor League Player of the Year in 2006 and made his major league debut that season, posting a 3-6 record with a 5.76 ERA in 10 games (9 starts) for the Twins. After being drafted, he became the fourth-fastest player to reach the majors in Twins history. He was named by Baseball America as Minnesota's number one prospect entering the 2007 season. He owns a career minor league record of 22-14 with a 2.88 ERA in 53 starts, striking out 338 in 303.1 innings pitched.
Bartlett, 28, was the Twins Opening Day shortstop last season and set career highs in virtually every offensive category. He batted .265 with five home runs, 43 RBI, 75 runs scored and a team-leading 23 stolen bases in 140 games. Included was a .319 (44-for-138) mark off left-handed pitching and a .360 (9-for-25) average at Tropicana Field. A 13th round selection of the San Diego Padres in 2001, he was acquired by the Twins in 2002 and made his major league debut in 2004. A resident of Ft. Myers, Fla., Bartlett has a .272 average and a .341 on-base percentage over his four-year career.
Morlan, 21, was a third round pick of the Twins in 2004 out of Coral Park High School in Miami, Fla. The Cuban native spent virtually the entire 2007 season with the Ft. Myers Miracle (A) of the Florida State League but earned a late-season promotion to New Britain (AA). He made a combined 43 relief appearances (41 with Ft. Myers, two with New Britain), posting a 5-3 record with 18 saves, a 3.10 ERA, and 99 strikeouts over 69.2 innings. He pitched for the Phoenix Desert Dogs this fall in the Arizona Fall League and did not allow a run in 12.2 innings pitched. Morlan owns 337 strikeouts over 274.2 career minor league innings (11.04 strikeouts per nine innings) and has pitched to a 2.82 ERA and held opponents to a .203 batting average.
Young, 22, was named Rays Most Outstanding Rookie last season by the BBWAA's Tampa Bay chapter as he led A.L. rookies in seven categories: games (162), hits (186), RBI (93), total bases (263), batting with runners in scoring position (.349), multi-hit games (55) and outfield assists (16). He finished second in the BBWAA A.L. Rookie of the Year voting. He was the number one overall selection in the 2003 June Draft by the Rays.
Harris, 27, spent his first full season at the major league level in 2007. He batted .286 with 35 doubles, 12 home runs and 59 RBI in 137 games. He made 86 starts at shortstop, 45 at second base and two at third base. He was acquired by the Rays from the Cincinnati Reds on January 2.
