July 12, 2006, 10:27AM
Astros deal prospects for D-Rays' Huff
By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
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-->The Astros shook up the roster Wednesday, acquiring outfielder/corner infielder Aubrey Huff from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. They also demoted slumping outfielder Jason Lane to Class AAA Round Rock.
“Huff brings to our club a polished, veteran professional hitter, something that we’ve been looking for, for a long, long time,” said general manager Tim Purpura. “The beauty of Huff is that he plays first, he plays third and he plays the outfield.”
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In exchange for Huff and $1.625 million in cash, the Astros gave up two prospects from Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks – righthanded pitcher Mitch Talbot and infielder Ben Zobrist. Joe McEwing, a journeyman outfielder from Class AAA Round Rock, was designated for assignment.
Lane’s demotion was not a surprise. He was hitting .205 (46-for-224) with 11 home runs, 30 RBI and 40 walks. “He will go to Round Rock and begin to play center field and give us another option as an outfielder in center field,” general manager Tim Purpura said of Lane. “He will be reporting to Round Rock shortly and get on board.”
Purpura also made it clear that Huff's acquisition "will cut into (slumping Morgan Ensberg's) playing time.”
Huff, 30, is hitting .283 with eight home runs and 28 RBI in 63 games for the Devil Rays this season.
In 2005, he hit .261 with 22 homers and 92 RBI. His best season was 2003, when he hit .311 with 34 HRs and 107 RBIs.
He has averaged 26 HRs and 91 RBIs per season over his career.
Astros deal prospects for D-Rays' Huff
By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
<!-- commented out ad <iframe width="1" height="1" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder=0 scrolling=no></iframe> <script></script>
-->The Astros shook up the roster Wednesday, acquiring outfielder/corner infielder Aubrey Huff from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. They also demoted slumping outfielder Jason Lane to Class AAA Round Rock.
“Huff brings to our club a polished, veteran professional hitter, something that we’ve been looking for, for a long, long time,” said general manager Tim Purpura. “The beauty of Huff is that he plays first, he plays third and he plays the outfield.”
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In exchange for Huff and $1.625 million in cash, the Astros gave up two prospects from Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks – righthanded pitcher Mitch Talbot and infielder Ben Zobrist. Joe McEwing, a journeyman outfielder from Class AAA Round Rock, was designated for assignment.
Lane’s demotion was not a surprise. He was hitting .205 (46-for-224) with 11 home runs, 30 RBI and 40 walks. “He will go to Round Rock and begin to play center field and give us another option as an outfielder in center field,” general manager Tim Purpura said of Lane. “He will be reporting to Round Rock shortly and get on board.”
Purpura also made it clear that Huff's acquisition "will cut into (slumping Morgan Ensberg's) playing time.”
Huff, 30, is hitting .283 with eight home runs and 28 RBI in 63 games for the Devil Rays this season.
In 2005, he hit .261 with 22 homers and 92 RBI. His best season was 2003, when he hit .311 with 34 HRs and 107 RBIs.
He has averaged 26 HRs and 91 RBIs per season over his career.