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By David Ferraro
July 10, 2009
The Seattle Mariners traded shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt for a duo of minor league arms on Friday.
Betancourt will be headed to the Kansas City Royals, who gave up a pair of prospects in Derrick Saito and Danny Cortes. The Royals also received cash in the deal.
Betancourt is currently on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring and is expected to be back after the all-star break. He was placed on the disabled list on June 25th.
On the season, Betancourt is hitting .250 with two home runs and three stolen bases in 224 at-bats.
The Royals are hoping the Betancourt can help ease the loss of shortstop Mike Aviles, who will be out for the whole season following surgery on his right elbow. Luis Hernandez and Tony Pena Jr. have struggled offensively trying to fill in for Aviles. Hernandez hit .204 in 49 at-bats before being designated for assignment and Pena is hitting .089 in 45 at-bats.
The struggles between the two have led the Royals to play Willie Bloomquist at shortstop this season as well, but it is not his natural position.
Also injured for the Royals are third baseman Alex Gordon, who has missed most of the season so far, and center fielder Coco Crisp, who has been out for the season since tearing his labrum in mid-June.
Earlier in the week, the Royals acquired Ryan Freel from the Cubs.
The Mariners received Danny Cortes, a 22 year old right handed starter who is 6-6 with a 3.92 ERA in AA. Derrick Saito, 21, is 2-6 with a pair of saves and a 4.15 ERA in 22 games out of the bullpen.
David Ferraro is the administrator of baseball-now.com
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