Guest MaxPower27 Report post Posted July 16, 2003 Stewart goes to Twins Canadian Press 7/16/2003 TORONTO (CP) - The Toronto Blue Jays traded left-fielder Shannon Stewart to the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday but there's no pitching help coming back in return. Instead, young outfielder Bobby Kielty is headed to Toronto from Minnesota, which also gets a player to be named later. Trade speculation has followed Stewart from the moment he arrived at spring training. The 29-year-old is making $6.2 million US this season and will be eligible for free agency after the World Series. Rather than letting him go for nothing after the season, the Blue Jays dealt him for Kielty, a switch-hitting outfielder making $325,000 US this season. Kielty, 26, fits in with the Blue Jays' philosophy of patience at the plate, walking 42 times with an on-base percentage of .370. This despite batting just .252 in 75 games this season with nine homers, 13 doubles, and 32 RBIs. He had been sharing time with Dustan Mohr and others in right field since the start of the 2002 season. The six-foot-one, 225-pound Kielty joins an outfield that includes all-star Vernon Wells in centre and Frank Catalanotto in right. Rookie Reed Johnson has impressed this season and keeps forcing his way into the lineup. Prospect Jayson Werth is also with the club while designated hitter Josh Phelps is on the disabled list. The departure of Stewart means the Blue Jays will need a new leadoff hitter. Johnson did an admirable job in the leadoff spot while Stewart was on the DL nursing a sore hamstring. Stewart, Toronto's first-round pick in the 1992 draft, had spent his entire nine-year career with the Blue Jays. Quiet, bordering on shy, Stewart is a terrific hitter but poor fielder. Base-runners freely run on his weak arm and fly balls that should be caught often fall in. He makes up for it at the plate. In 855 career games, he hit .301 with 218 doubles, 32 triples, 73 home runs and 356 RBIs. This season he has battled hamstring problems, batting .294 in 71 games with seven home runs and 35 RBIs. Stewart will likely bat leadoff for the Twins, allowing left-fielder Jacque Jones to move into a run-producing spot in the lineup. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CanadianChris Report post Posted July 16, 2003 About time. I knew as soon as Stewart came back from the injury that they had to deal him. Reed Johnson is ready NOW, and needs to play everyday. they didn't lose anything in the outfield with this deal. It's become crystal clear that the Jays aren't going anywhere this year anyway, so I'm not as concerned with the lack of pitching coming back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DrTom Report post Posted July 16, 2003 Not a bad move for the Twins, who will presumably let Stewart run again, but I think they needed pitching more than another outfielder. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted July 17, 2003 Not a bad trade. To little too late though. The first 11 games are against Oakland, Seattle, and K.C. Those are 3 teams playing well. Look what they did against Texas, and Chicago. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DrTom Report post Posted July 17, 2003 I'd like to qualify the "not a bad move" comment by saying the Twins should DH Stewart. He has a miserable arm, and anyone in their outfield would be more capable of throwing a runner out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted July 17, 2003 Dustan Mohr is horrible has well. Plus it looks like Morneau will get alot of time has DH. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
