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Cubs Acquire Phil Nevin


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Caught the tail end of a conversation in the Rangers-Mariners game today and it sounded like there was pressbox buzz involving the Cubs getting Phil Nevin. Not sure what was sent back in return (is this part of the Koronka trade) or if they sent a contract back in return but Nevin may be Chicago bound. Sounds like too little, too late. This would have been a good pickup 4 weeks ago

Edited by Punch and Judy Garland
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Looks like it's actually done.

 

Just shy of the season’s one-third mark, the Rangers ended the Phil Nevin experiment Wednesday afternoon.

 

A week after Nevin lost his job to rookie Jason Botts, the club was putting the final touches on a deal with the Chicago Cubs, a pair of Rangers sources said. No further details of the deal were available. The Rangers are expected to pick up a significant portion of the $6 million remaining on Nevin’s salary. They are not expected to receive a significant player in return.

 

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels declined to comment.

 

''If I have something to announce, I’ll do it at the appropriate time,'' Daniels said.

 

The move gives the Rangers the option of calling up speedy outfielder Freddy Guzman, who was acquired from San Diego earlier in the month, and creates more playing time for players such as Botts, Mark DeRosa, Brad Wilkerson and Kevin Mench.

 

Nevin met with manager Buck Showalter and general manager Jon Daniels about an hour before Wednesday’s game. He was not in the dugout for the afternoon game against Seattle. His game-winning home run against Oakland last Thursday, which had been a regular of the pre-game highlight video, was also not played.

 

The Rangers acquired Nevin, 35, last July in a swap of bad contracts. Texas sent pitcher Chan Ho Park, who had almost $20 million remaining of his original five-year, $65 million deal, to San Diego. Nevin, who had about $15 million remaining on his long-term deal with the Padres, came to Texas.

 

Nevin was installed as the Rangers’ cleanup hitter and quickly flopped. He was removed from the No. 4 spot after just two weeks.

 

The Rangers were willing to move him during the offseason but found little interest because of his declining performance and big contract. When he arrived at spring training, he made an immediate favorable impression.

 

Nevin had a strong first two weeks but tailed off in the middle of the month. From April 26 through May 22, Nevin batted just .160 without a home run. The Rangers called up Jason Botts on May 23 and announced he’d be the regular DH and that Nevin would split time with him.

 

Nevin returned to the lineup last Thursday after missing a pair of games and broke an 0-for-17 slump with a game-winning homer. But he was just 1-for-12 in three subsequent starts. As a Ranger, Nevin batted .204 with 12 homers and 39 RBIs in 275 at-bats.

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Nevin either aged quickly due to a lack of athleticism or he is one of many guys (Hidalgo, etc) that just sort of lost it the last few years and is open to speculation. WHile Koronka stunk today, he wasn't supposed to be significant going from the Cubs to the Rangers so hopefully the Rangers can grab another starting pitcher from the Cubs. I wonder if it will be an aging name prospect like Williams or Hill or if it will be a lower minors younger arm

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QUOTE(Punch and Judy Garland @ May 31, 2006 -> 08:12 PM)
Nevin either aged quickly due to a lack of athleticism or he is one of many guys (Hidalgo, etc) that just sort of lost it the last few years and is open to speculation. WHile Koronka stunk today, he wasn't supposed to be significant going from the Cubs to the Rangers so hopefully the Rangers can grab another starting pitcher from the Cubs. I wonder if it will be an aging name prospect like Williams or Hill or if it will be a lower minors younger arm

 

Nevin is one of those guys who would surprise me if he wasn't on the juice. I saw a handful of minor league games this wknd, and it's comical to see some guys that used to look like monsters, but now look like middle infielders. There was a former major leaguer, who holds quite an impressive record, who looks like he lost 25 pct of his weight in the past few seasons.

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QUOTE(Dick Allen @ May 31, 2006 -> 01:49 PM)
Doesn't Nevin have a no trade clause? He was supposed to go to Cincinatti a few years ago for Griffey but invoked it I believe. If he doesn't want to play in Cincinatti, maybe he wants no part of the urinal.

He had to waive his no trade clause to go to Texas from S.D. Do those things come back?

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QUOTE(Steve9347 @ May 31, 2006 -> 04:22 PM)
note to anyone in a fantasy league... pick up Jason Botts right the f*** now.

 

well... the kid is striking out at almost a 50% clip in his career (17ks in 39 abs).

 

Thats reggie jackson-esque

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QUOTE(Balta1701 @ May 31, 2006 -> 03:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
He had to waive his no trade clause to go to Texas from S.D. Do those things come back?

It was limited to 10 teams. Last year they tried to move him to the O's for Ponson, but they were one of the teams he didn't want to go to. He didn't have protection against the Rangers, and probably not for the Cubs.

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QUOTE(Cuck the Fubs @ Jun 1, 2006 -> 12:06 AM)
That was a stupid trade. Where is Nevin going to play when Lee comes back??

 

It's still quite a while until Lee comes back Mr. Cubsessed.

 

A right-handed hitter, Nevin was drafted as a catcher and has played all over the field. One benefit he brings to the Cubs is that he might be able to get time at catcher when Michael Barrett serves his upcoming suspension. He would figure to move to the bench when Lee is activated and could get time at third base and in the outfield.
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