Floridamarlins's Blog

The Florida Marlins traded catcher Ryan Jorgensen to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday for infielder Carlos Piste in a swap of minor leaguers.

Jorgensen, who was hitless in four at-bats last year after being called up in September, came to the Marlins from the Cubs with Dontrelle Willis on March 27, 2002, in the trade for Matt Clement and Antonio Alfonseca.

Florida also acquired right-hander Todd Wellemeyer from the Chicago Cubs for minor league pitchers Lincoln Holdzkom and Zach McCormack.

With less than a week to go before opening day, the Florida Marlins haven't sorted out their crowded outfield competition.

"It just gets worse every day," manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday, when the Marlins beat the New York Mets 12-7. "They've done what we've asked. Unfortunately we can't take everyone with us."

Chris Aguila went 3-for-3 to raise his batting average to .327, Reggie Abercrombie went 1-for-2 with two RBIs (.386) and Eric Reed went 3-for-5 with two RBIs (.327). One of them is expected to play centre field and one could end up starting in left field.

"They're making it difficult on us and that's the way you want it to be," Girardi said. "You want guys fighting for it."

Abercrombie leads the team with 16 RBIs, but he's also tied with Jeremy Hermida with 16 strikeouts.

Jose Lima allowed five runs in two innings for the Mets, raising his ERA to 9.24.

Jose Reyes went 2-for-4 with two RBIs to raise his batting average to .538, while Carlos Beltran went 2 for 4 (.400).

Notes: RHP Brian Bannister won a spot in the Mets' rotation Tuesday when Aaron Heilman was put in the bullpen. Heilman allowed one run in two innings against the Marlins. ... Florida acquired RHP Todd Wellemeyer from the Chicago Cubs for minor league pitchers Lincoln Holdzkom and Zach McCormack. ... Florida dealt C Ryan Jorgensen to Cincinnati for INF Carlos Piste in a swap of minor leaguers. ... If the Marlins don't tell Matt Herges and Kerry Ligtenberg by Wednesday that they will be on the opening-day roster, the relievers can decide to become free agents. OFs Matt Cepicky and Mike Kinkade have similar provisions in their minor league contracts. Ligtenberg allowed three runs in two innings Tuesday.

Right-hander Todd Wellemeyer was traded from the Chicago Cubs to the Florida Marlins on Tuesday for minor league pitchers Lincoln Holdzkom and Zach McCormack.

The 27-year-old Wellemeyer was taken by the Cubs in the fourth round of the 2000 amateur draft. He has pitched in 57 major league games with Chicago over three seasons, mainly in relief, with a 5-3 record and a 6.19 ERA. He is 32-29 with a 4.15 ERA in 106 minor league games.
Wellemeyer was 2-1 with a 6.12 ERA in three stints with the Cubs last season. He pitched in eight exhibition games this spring training with an 0-0 record and an 8.25 ERA.

Holdzkom, 24, has a 2.86 ERA in 110 games in the Florida organization and has 194 strikeouts in 160 innings. The right-hander pitched in 12 games at the Class A level a year ago while recovering from elbow ligament replacement surgery.

McCormack, 24, is 8-8 with a 4.88 ERA and 7 saves in 86 career relief appearances. He is a left-hander who spent most of last season in Class A.