Braves get Russ Ortiz from Giants, sign Byrd

Tuesday December 17, 2002

By TOM SALADINO
AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP) Quickly remaking their starting rotation, the Atlanta Braves acquired Russ Ortiz from San Francisco on Tuesday and signed free-agent Paul Byrd to a $10 million, two-year contract.

The Braves already had landed Mike Hampton in a trade and lost Tom Glavine to the New York Mets. Greg Maddux like Glavine, a free agent has until Thursday to accept the Braves' offer of salary arbitration.

To get Ortiz, Atlanta sent pitcher Damian Moss and minor league pitcher Manuel Mateo to San Francisco.

Ortiz, a 27-year-old right-hander, was 14-10 last season with a 3.61 ERA, helping the Giants reach the World Series. He has a 67-44 career record with a 4.01 ERA.

``Russ was the Giants' No. 1 starter last year and has demonstrated on a consistent basis his ability to be a top-of-rotation starter,'' Braves general manager John Schuerholz said.

Ortiz is to earn $4.6 million in 2003, and the Braves have a club option for $5.7 million in 2004 with a $300,000 buyout option. The option could increase by as much as $900,000 based on the number of innings he pitches next season.

Byrd pitched for Atlanta in 1997 and 1998 and went 17-11 last season with a 3.90 ERA for the Kansas City Royals. He gets $3 million next season and has a $7 million player option for 2004.

Moss, a 26-year-old Australian, went 12-6 with a 4.11 ERA as the Braves' fifth starter last season, his first in the majors. The left-hander signed with the Braves as a free agent in 1993 and spent seven years in their minor league system.

``To acquire a player with Damian's upside at this point in his career is an opportunity that we couldn't pass up,'' San Francisco GM Brian Sabean said. ``He has a quality arm that hitters in the league have obviously had a tough time figuring out. He's the type of pitcher who will have quite a bit of success in our ballpark.''

Moss will become the first Australian-born player in Giants franchise history.

The Giants also got Mateo, a 20-year-old right-hander who went 7-3 with a 1.98 ERA in 12 games with the Braves' rookie Gulf Coast League team last season.

The Braves also are trying to rebuild their bullpen after losing three relievers this offseason. Mike Remlinger (to the Chicago Cubs) and Chris Hammond (New York Yankees) left as free agents, while Tim Spooneybarger went to Florida as part of the Hampton deal.

Atlanta traded infielder Wes Helms to Milwaukee on Monday for left-hander middle reliever Ray King.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)