Sports

Baseball

Cubs deal frustrating Patterson

Corey Patterson teased with his talent but never blossomed, spending part of last season in the minors.

Associated Press
Published January 10, 2006

---

CHICAGO - Centerfielder Corey Patterson, once projected as the Cubs' star of the future, was traded to the Orioles on Monday for minor-league shortstop Nate Spears and left-hander Carlos Perez.

Patterson, 26, has been undermined by poor plate discipline in parts of six seasons with the Cubs. He has a .252 average and a .293 on-base percentage, in addition to a .414 slugging percentage, in 589 games.

The Cubs' first-round pick, third overall, in 1998, Patterson tore a knee ligament midway through 2003 during what appeared to be a breakout season, when he batted .298 with 13 homers. He seemed to build on it in 2004, drawing a career-high 45 walks, then regressed.

He had a .215 average, a .254 OBP and 13 homers in 126 games, including 111 starts. The Cubs demoted him to Triple-A Iowa to work on his batting stroke, and he played 24 games in the minors before returning.

PORTLAND TALKS: Portland, Ore., Mayor Tom Potter said after meeting with Marlins officials that he has a "very strong sense" most residents couldn't care less about landing a baseball team and reiterated that the city will not help finance a stadium.

ASTROS: Former Rays left-hander Trever Miller finalized a $1.3-million, one-year contract after passing a physical.

DODGERS: Shortstop Rafael Furcal, who signed a $39-million, three-year contract last month, is scheduled for minor arthroscopic surgery Wednesday on his right knee.

METS: Wichita State right-hander Mike Pelfrey, the team's first-round pick in June, agreed to a four-year major-league contract that could be worth as much as $6.5-million, Newsday reported. ... Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter was promoted to manager of Class A St. Lucie after managing New York's Gulf Coast League team to a 37-16 record last season.

TIGERS: Italy will play Detroit in an exhibition game in Lakeland on March 4 in preparation for the World Baseball Classic.

TWINS: The team asked a Hennepin County (Minn.) District Judge to rule that it isn't obliged to play in the Metrodome after this season. "This thing is stone-cold dead," team lawyer Roger Magnuson told Judge Charles Porter Jr. of a 1998-2003 agreement to play in the dome. The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, which runs the Metrodome, said the team has a legal agreement to remain until a new ballpark is built.

[Last modified January 10, 2006, 01:52:17]

[an error occurred while processing this directive]