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Brewers deal for Giants second baseman Durham
By Buster Olney
ESPN The Magazine
The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired second baseman Ray Durham from the Giants, continuing their push to make the playoffs for the first time since 1982.
Ray Durham's .293 average is a big improvement over the Brewers' current mix at second base.
Worst average at 2B in 2008 Team Average
Brewers .222
Indians .232
Athletics .234
Nationals .239
Rockies .241
Pirates .243
Durham, 36, is hitting .293 for the Giants, with an on-base percentage of .385, and in theory, he could help the Brewers as a utility player. But it is also very possible that he will press Rickie Weeks, the Brewers' everyday second baseman to this point, for playing time.
Weeks is hitting .218 with eight homers, and Milwaukee ranks dead last among all teams in batting average for second baseman (.222).
ESPN.com's Keith Law is reporting that the prospects going to San Francisco are Steve Hammond and Darren Ford. The seriousness of the Durham talks between the Giants and Brewers was reported by the San Francisco Chronicle on Saturday.
The Brewers are in San Francisco this weekend. Durham was held out of San Francisco's lineup on Sunday, but manager Bruce Bochy said he was available for the game. Emmanuel Burriss started at second.
"I don't have anything to tell you on that," Bochy told The Associated Press of a possible deal. "Ray's here."
Durham was a late arrival to the ballpark, getting to the clubhouse in a rush about 2 hours before the game with a bag on his shoulder.
"I've got to do a few things right now," he said, but never emerged at his locker before the game while the clubhouse was open to the media.
A baseball official close to the deal expected an announcement to be made after the game. A Brewers trainer also was seen leaving the Giants clubhouse Sunday.
Brewers manager Ned Yost wouldn't go into specifics but said: "We're focused on which direction were going. We do know what we're trying to do. We just play baseball. We're excited. We're excited about the prospects."
Durham is in the final season of a two-year, $14.5 million contract.
By Buster Olney
ESPN The Magazine
The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired second baseman Ray Durham from the Giants, continuing their push to make the playoffs for the first time since 1982.
Ray Durham's .293 average is a big improvement over the Brewers' current mix at second base.
Worst average at 2B in 2008 Team Average
Brewers .222
Indians .232
Athletics .234
Nationals .239
Rockies .241
Pirates .243
Durham, 36, is hitting .293 for the Giants, with an on-base percentage of .385, and in theory, he could help the Brewers as a utility player. But it is also very possible that he will press Rickie Weeks, the Brewers' everyday second baseman to this point, for playing time.
Weeks is hitting .218 with eight homers, and Milwaukee ranks dead last among all teams in batting average for second baseman (.222).
ESPN.com's Keith Law is reporting that the prospects going to San Francisco are Steve Hammond and Darren Ford. The seriousness of the Durham talks between the Giants and Brewers was reported by the San Francisco Chronicle on Saturday.
The Brewers are in San Francisco this weekend. Durham was held out of San Francisco's lineup on Sunday, but manager Bruce Bochy said he was available for the game. Emmanuel Burriss started at second.
"I don't have anything to tell you on that," Bochy told The Associated Press of a possible deal. "Ray's here."
Durham was a late arrival to the ballpark, getting to the clubhouse in a rush about 2 hours before the game with a bag on his shoulder.
"I've got to do a few things right now," he said, but never emerged at his locker before the game while the clubhouse was open to the media.
A baseball official close to the deal expected an announcement to be made after the game. A Brewers trainer also was seen leaving the Giants clubhouse Sunday.
Brewers manager Ned Yost wouldn't go into specifics but said: "We're focused on which direction were going. We do know what we're trying to do. We just play baseball. We're excited. We're excited about the prospects."
Durham is in the final season of a two-year, $14.5 million contract.
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