Nationals deal for Spivey to fill 2B hole

By wire services
Published June 11, 2005

WASHINGTON - Making clear they won't stand pat, the NL East-leading Nationals acquired second baseman Junior Spivey from the Brewers for right-hander Tomo Ohka hours before he was scheduled to start Friday.

The Nationals also picked up two right-handers off waivers, Ryan Drese and Jacobo Seuqea.

Spivey, a 2002 NL All-Star, will fill a hole left by injured second baseman Jose Vidro.

"Our feeling is that Drese could do what Ohka was doing, and we can solve our infield situation," Nationals general manager Jim Bowden said.

Spivey is batting .236 this season with a .308 on-base percentage and a .374 slugging percentage in 182 at-bats. He has a .272 career average with a .355 OBP and .438 SLG in 429 games.

Vidro is expected out until the All-Star break with a partially torn tendon in his left ankle, and his backup, Jamey Carroll, missed the past two games with a sprained ankle. Carroll's backup, veteran Carlos Baerga, made an error in the ninth inning Thursday night that allowed a run.

Ohka went 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA this season. He was fined after turning his back to Frank Robinson when the manager went to the mound to pull Ohka in the fourth inning of his last start.

Also, Nationals outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds retired after 13 seasons in which injuries help prevent him from reaching the success predicted when he was the No. 4 overall pick in the amateur draft.

Hammonds, 34, ends his career with a .272 average, 824 hits, 110 home runs and 423 RBIs in 957 games. He never played more than 128 games in a season.

Also, Rick Short hit a run-scoring pinch single in his first major-league at-bat for the Nationals. Short, 32, had 1,235 hits in the minors before his callup Thursday.

NOMAR TO GET RING: This weekend behind closed doors, former Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra will receive a World Series ring while his former team is in Chicago to face his new one, the Cubs.

After spending parts of 81/2 seasons in Boston, Garciaparra was traded to Chicago in July 2004 and missed one of the greatest sports experiences in New England history, a long-awaited World Series title.

But Garciaparra was still scheduled to be recognized for his contributions to the championship, even though he wasn't around to enjoy it after a less than amicable departure.

"I don't think there's really any need for it to be a public thing, especially here," said Garciaparra, who's on the disabled list recovering from groin surgery.

PHILS RELIEVER RETURNS: Tim Worrell returned to the Phillies five weeks after leaving the team for personal reasons.

The right-hander soon will begin a rehabilitation assignment that could last about a month before rejoining the bullpen.

"I wanted to thank my teammates, the media, the fans and the Phillies organization for their understanding while I sorted things out in my life," Worrell said. "I'm glad to be here today and especially with a chance to help win a championship for the city of Philadelphia."

ANGELS: Rightfielder Vladimir Guerrero, the defending AL MVP, was activated from the disabled list and had three hits against the Mets.

MARLINS: Several players are frustrated with manager Jack McKeon for, among other things, constantly juggling the struggling team's lineup, the Palm Beach Post reported.

METS: Catcher Mike Piazza was out of the lineup for the second straight game with a sore wrist but said he might be able to pinch-hit.

PIRATES: Ryan Searage, an outfielder from Eckerd College, was Pittsburgh's 18th-round draft pick.

REDS: Texas prep outfielder Jay Bruce signed for $1.8-million three days after being the 12th overall pick in the amateur draft. The team chose Bruce partly because it anticipated a smooth negotiation.

ROCKIES: Leftfielder Matt Holliday went on the 15-day disabled list with a broken right pinky. Outfielder Jorge Piedra, one of five major-leaguers suspended this season for violating baseball's policy on performing-enhancing drugs, was recalled.

TIGERS: Shortstop Carlos Guillen's sore right knee and left hamstring will likely limit him to pinch-hit duties this weekend.

[Last modified June 11, 2005, 00:26:12]