The Detroit Tigers reportedly had no choice but to trade reliever Ugueth Urbina after he drank too much and fought with teammates on the team flight to Los Angeles last Sunday night, according to an initial report by Michigan's Booth Newspapers.
Urbina joined the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, one day after he was acquired from Detroit along with infielder Ramon Martinez for infielder Placido Polanco.
So what happened during the alleged in-flight brawl? Sources told Phillyburbs.com that Urbina drank too much, infuriated teammates and became involved in fights with reliever Kyle Farnsworth and others.
"That's not why I got traded," Urbina said. "I got traded because I wanted to get traded. I didn't want to be there. ... I had some arguments, but that's it."
Urbina also had a difficult off-season dealing with the kidnapping of his mother in Venezuela. Maura Villarreal was held captive for five months before she was rescued in February.
In his debut with the Phillies on Thursday night, Urbina allowed four runs while retiring just one batter in Philadelphia's 10-8 victory over Texas.
Though he isn't returning to his former job as a closer, Urbina is happy he's on a winning team. He'll pitch in a setup role for the Phillies, and will get a chance to save games when Billy Wagner needs a rest. Philadelphia is second in the NL East behind Washington.
"I know my role. I'm fine with that," Urbina said. "Billy is one of the best closers around. You have the chance to make the playoffs. The playoffs are exciting and I look forward to going back. That's why I don't mind being a setup guy. I just want to win."
A two-time All-Star, Urbina is 40-46 with 236 saves and a 3.39 ERA in 11 seasons with Montreal, Boston, Texas, Florida and Detroit. The right-hander had 41 saves for the Expos in 1999 and 40 for the Red Sox in 2002.
He's in the final year of a contract that is paying him $4 million this season.
"I'm tired of packing and unpacking," Urbina said. "Hopefully I can go somewhere for three or four years."
The Associated Press
:drink:
Urbina joined the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, one day after he was acquired from Detroit along with infielder Ramon Martinez for infielder Placido Polanco.
So what happened during the alleged in-flight brawl? Sources told Phillyburbs.com that Urbina drank too much, infuriated teammates and became involved in fights with reliever Kyle Farnsworth and others.
"That's not why I got traded," Urbina said. "I got traded because I wanted to get traded. I didn't want to be there. ... I had some arguments, but that's it."
Urbina also had a difficult off-season dealing with the kidnapping of his mother in Venezuela. Maura Villarreal was held captive for five months before she was rescued in February.
In his debut with the Phillies on Thursday night, Urbina allowed four runs while retiring just one batter in Philadelphia's 10-8 victory over Texas.
Though he isn't returning to his former job as a closer, Urbina is happy he's on a winning team. He'll pitch in a setup role for the Phillies, and will get a chance to save games when Billy Wagner needs a rest. Philadelphia is second in the NL East behind Washington.
"I know my role. I'm fine with that," Urbina said. "Billy is one of the best closers around. You have the chance to make the playoffs. The playoffs are exciting and I look forward to going back. That's why I don't mind being a setup guy. I just want to win."
A two-time All-Star, Urbina is 40-46 with 236 saves and a 3.39 ERA in 11 seasons with Montreal, Boston, Texas, Florida and Detroit. The right-hander had 41 saves for the Expos in 1999 and 40 for the Red Sox in 2002.
He's in the final year of a contract that is paying him $4 million this season.
"I'm tired of packing and unpacking," Urbina said. "Hopefully I can go somewhere for three or four years."
The Associated Press
:drink:
