By JOE KAY, AP Sports Writer
July 30, 2003
CINCINNATI (AP) -- The Oakland Athletics bulked up their outfield by getting Jose Guillen from the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday for right-hander Aaron Harang and two minor league pitchers.
Guillen was the Reds' top hitter, filling in during Ken Griffey Jr.'s two serious injuries. He was hitting .337 -- third in the National League -- with 23 homers and 63 RBIs in 91 games.
The A's felt they needed a more productive outfield to pull off another one of their second-half surges and overtake Seattle in the AL West. Oakland is second-last in the league in batting average.
Eric Byrnes was the only consistent outfielder in the first half, but he started to tail off after the All-Star break. Chris Singleton, signed to a one-year contract in the offseason, lost his job and has been on the bench.
The 27-year-old Guillen is going to his fifth team in seven years. He finally started living up to expectations in Cincinnati, but bristled at his backup role when Griffey was healthy enough to play.
``I appreciate the Reds giving me a new life, so I could show people I can still play every day,'' Guillen said. ``I would just love to stay here. I haven't felt so comfortable in a long time.''
He was comfortable, but not always happy. When Griffey returned from a dislocated shoulder in May, Guillen demanded a trade rather than returning to a backup role. Guillen also threw three bats against a clubhouse wall in June after learning he wasn't in the starting lineup that day.
Guillen couldn't move ahead of Griffey, Adam Dunn or Austin Kearns. He was interested in staying in Cincinnati next season, but not as a backup. The Reds decided to trade him rather than letting him leave as a free agent and getting nothing in return.
The A's also sent the Reds right-handers Joe Valentine and Jeff Bruksch.
``Several clubs were interested in him,'' scouting director Leland Maddox said. ``It was a matter of getting the best package we could put together of guys who are ready for the major leagues. The theme is pitching, pitching, pitching.''
It was the Reds' second trade in two days since they fired general manager Jim Bowden and manager Bob Boone. The Reds sent closer Scott Williamson to Boston late Tuesday night for prospects.
The trade of Williamson stunned the clubhouse. Guillen's trade was no surprise -- he had packed up belongings in the clubhouse this week, hoping to leave.
As the rest of the players put on their game uniforms for the annual team photo on Wednesday afternoon, Guillen stayed in T-shirt and shorts.
``What do you think?'' he said. ``It makes no sense to go outside and take a picture.''
He eventually suited up and was the last one to join the team photo. Afterward, he sat in front of the dugout and did a television interview while the rest of the team did the mandatory pregame stretch. Several teammates called for him to join them, but he ignored them.
Five minutes into the interview, a teammate hit him in the face with a paper plate slathered with shaving cream. Guillen wiped it away and kept on doing the interview while his teammates worked out.
An hour after he had his picture taken as part of the 2003 Reds, he got word that he was traded.
Harang opened the season at Triple-A Sacramento, went 7-2 with a 2.38 ERA, then was called up. He was 1-3 with a 5.34 ERA in seven games before he was sent back to the minors.
Valentine was 1-3 with a 4.82 ERA and four saves for Sacramento. Bruksch was 10-8 with a 5.13 ERA in 23 starts for Class-A Modesto.
