Tigers trade six for Rangers' Gonzalez

Going with Gonzalez to Detroit were pitcher Danny Patterson and catcher Gregg Zaun.

The Rangers received pitchers Justin Thompson, Alan Webb and Francisco Cordero, outfielder Gabe Kapler, catcher Bill Haselman and infielder Frank Catalanotto.

The Tigers get "a franchise player and future Hall of Famer" in Gonzalez, Detroit general manager Randy Smith said.

"I guess it heated up over the last couple of days," Texas general manager Doug Melvin said. "We had talked about it at length. Randy Smith has been on vacation in Hawaii, so it was a long-distance call trying to get the deal done."

AP PHOTO Yesterday the Tigers trader five players, including Gabe Kapler, Francisco Cordero and Frank Catalanatto for Ranger Juan Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, who turned 30 on Oct. 16, was the AL MVP in 1996 and 1998. The Tigers have until Saturday to exercise a $7.5 million option on him for next year, and the sides spoke shortly after the trade was made.

Gonzalez is eligible for free agency after the 2000 season.

"We just weren't prepared to ... go into next season with that over our heads," Melvin said of Gonzalez's free agency.

The All-Star outfielder hit .326 with 39 home runs and 128 RBIs last year. He led the Rangers to the AL West titles in 1996, 1998 and 1999, yet all three seasons ended in disappointment as each time they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the eventual World Series champion New York Yankees.

Detroit went 69-92 last season and finished third in the AL Central, 27 1/2 games behind Cleveland in their final season at Tiger Stadium.

The Tigers hope for a fresh start next season when they move into new Comerica Park under newly hired manager Phil Garner.

"Over the last few years, we have worked hard to develop a farm system with a high talent level and strong depth," Smith said, without which "we could not have made today's deal."

Melvin said Thompson is highly regarded, although the left-hander underwent arthroscopic surgery on his pitching shoulder Aug. 26. At the time he was put on the disabled list, then manager Larry Parrish said Thompson was "mentally beat up."

"Whenever there's surgery, there's a certain amount of risk involved," Melvin said. "He was pitching hurt, and that was affecting his last few performances."

Thompson, 26, was 9-11 with a 5.11 ERA. He was an All-Star during his first full season in 1997, but has been slowed by injuries.

In 11 seasons with Texas, Gonzalez batted .294 with 340 home runs and 1,075 RBIs.

Gonzalez played in 49 games combined for the Rangers in 1989 and 1990 before spending his first full season in the majors in 1991.

He batted .314 with 47 home runs and 144 RBIs in 1996 as Texas won its first division title, and batted .318 with 45 homers and 157 RBIs in 1998.

The Puerto Rican native put up more big numbers last season, but his production was somewhat overshadowed by his refusal to play in the All-Star Game and the strong offensive production from teammates Rafael Palmeiro and Ivan Rodriguez.

Gonzalez and the hard-hitting Rangers also were criticized after getting swept by the Yankees in the opening round. Texas has scored a total of only two runs in their last 60 postseason innings, and lost nine in a row to New York.

Gonzalez was considered a lock to be one of the reserves chosen for July's All-Star game in Boston, but he told reporters that he would not play in the classic unless he was voted in as a starter by the fans. Melvin and Rangers manager Johnny Oates said they disagreed with Gonzalez's decision, but never criticized him publicly.

Kapler, 24, became the Tigers' center fielder once Brian Hunter was traded to Seattle early in the season. Kapler hit .245 with 18 home runs and 49 RBIs.

Cordero, a 22-year-old righty, made his major league debut and was 2-2 with a 3.32 ERA in 20 relief appearances.

Catalanotto, 25, hit .276 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs as a second baseman. Haselman, a 33-year-old backup, hit .273 with four home runs and 14 RBIs.

Webb, a 20-year-old lefty, was 9-9 with a 4.95 ERA at Double-A Jacksonville.

Along with Gonzalez, the Tigers got Patterson and Zaun, both 28. The right-handed Patterson was 2-0 with a 5.67 ERA in 53 relief appearances and Zaun hit .247 with one homer and 12 RBIs as a backup to Rodriguez.

11-03-99