Baseball

Indians, Cubs swap slugging OFs

By wire services
Published July 19, 2005

CLEVELAND - Looking for right-handed power, the Indians acquired outfielder Jason Dubois on Monday night from the Cubs in exchange for outfielder Jody Gerut .

The Indians have been in the market for a right-handed slugger, and Dubois could help. The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder hit 31 homers last season at Triple-A Iowa.

Dubois, 26, batted .239 with seven homers and 22 RBIs in 52 games this season for the Cubs before being optioned to Iowa on July 8.

"This is a pure baseball trade in the sense that we are trading a player we like in Jody Gerut for a player that we feel has a lot of offensive potential and compliments our club well, both now and in the future," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said.

Gerut batted .275 in 44 games this season for Cleveland. He spent the first six weeks on the disabled list while recovering from major knee surgery in September.

In 2003, Gerut batted .279 with 22 homers and led the Indians with 75 RBIs.

In other Indians news, reliever Rafael Betancourt was reinstated to the active roster after serving his 10-day suspension for violating baseball's drug policy. The right-hander was suspended July 8 after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance.

Also, Cleveland DH Travis Hafner is still having dizzy spells after a weekend beaning by White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle and didn't start for the second straight game.

CARDS' SANDERS SIDELINED: Cardinals outfielder Reggie Sanders might miss a month or more with a broken bone in his right leg.

Sanders went on the 15-day disabled list three days after he collided with centerfielder Jim Edmonds as they chased a fly ball. Tests Sunday showed the leftfielder, 37, has a hairline fracture of his right fibula. Team doctors estimate it could keep him out 4-6 weeks.

"I feel like I played football for a couple of days," Sanders said.

Sanders was second on the team with 18 home runs, third with 44 RBIs and first with 14 stolen bases in 15 attempts.

BRAVES: Five-time All-Star third baseman Chipper Jones was activated from the 15-day disabled list and in the lineup.

PADRES: Second baseman Mark Loretta and first baseman Phil Nevin were activated from the disabled list, bringing the NL West leaders closer to full strength. Loretta had surgery May 24 to repair a strained ligament in his left thumb. Nevin went on the disabled list June 26 with a strained stomach muscle.

RANGERS: Right-hander Joaquin Benoit is scheduled to move into the rotation Wednesday night in place of right-hander John Wasdin , who goes back to the bullpen.

RED SOX: Owner John Henry said the team will likely increase its payroll, which is second biggest in baseball to the AL East rival Yankees, by adding pitching before the July 31 trade deadline. Henry, who led a group that bought the team and Fenway Park for a record $700-million in 2002, also said the 93-year-old stadium will be renovated further during the offseason. ... Second baseman Mark Bellhorn went on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb. Infielder Kevin Youkilis was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket.

ROCKIES: Right-hander Jose Acevedo was activated from the disabled list after missing 43 games with a right groin strain.

ROYALS: Left-hander Jeremy Affeldt was uninjured in Sunday's fight despite being thrown to the ground by Tigers right-hander Kyle Farnsworth .

WHITE SOX: Right-handed reliever Shingo Takatsu , Japan's career saves leader who lost his closer duties to Dustin Hermanson this season, was designated for assignment.

[Last modified July 19, 2005, 01:09:13]