Beavers' Tankersley traded to Kansas City

Published on November 8, 2004 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - The San Diego Padres have traded Portland Beavers right-handed pitcher Dennis Tankersley to the Kansas City Royals as part of a four-player deal that was announced today.

Tankersley, a native of St. Charles, Mo., was sent to the Royals along with outfielder Terrence Long in exchange for left-handed pitcher Darrell May and right-handed pitcher Ryan Bukvich.

The 25-year-old Tankersley, the lone player to participate in each of the Beavers' four seasons since the team rejoined the Pacific Coast League in 2001, finished second in the PCL with a 3.15 ERA in 2004, going 7-4 with 86 strikeouts in 120.0 innings pitched over 19 starts with Portland.

In 58 appearances (all starts) during his four seasons with the Beavers, Tankersley, who paced the PCL with 148 strikeouts in 2003, compiled a 19-21 record with a 4.09 ERA and 301 strikeouts in 336.1 innings pitched. As such, Tankersley is Portland's career leader in almost all major pitching categories dating back to the 2001 campaign, including wins, appearances, starts, innings pitched and strikeouts.

Over parts of three major league seasons with the Padres (2002-04), Tankersley has a career record of 1-10 with a 7.61 ERA. The right-hander went 0-5 with a 5.14 ERA (20er, 35.0ip) in nine games (6 starts) with the Padres in 2004.

Tankersley was originally a 38th-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox in 1998 and was traded to the Padres with infielder Cesar Saba in exchange for infielder Ed Sprague on June 30, 2000.

May, 32, went 9-19 with a 5.61 ERA in 31 starts with the Royals in 2004, leading Kansas City in wins and innings pitched for the second consecutive season. In 2003, he was named the Royals Pitcher of the Year after posting a 10-8 record and a 3.77 ERA in 35 games (32 starts).

Over parts of six major league seasons with the Atlanta Braves (1995), Pittsburgh Pirates (1996), California/Anaheim Angels (1996-97) and Royals (2002-04), May has a career record of 25-39 with a 4.98 ERA in 137 games (88 starts).

Bukvich, 26, appeared in nine games for Kansas City in 2004, going 0-0 with a 3.68 ERA (3er, 7.1ip) and one save. He began the season with Triple-A Omaha, going 3-4 with seven saves and a 4.37 ERA in 38 relief appearances.

Bukvich has a career 2-0 record with a 6.54 ERA in 44 games over parts of three big league seasons with the Royals (2002-04). Originally drafted by Kansas City in the 11th round of the 2000 draft, Bukvich, a career reliever, has appeared in 174 minor league games, going 8-9 with a 2.79 ERA and 47 saves.

Over parts of three seasons in the PCL with Omaha (2002-04), Bukvich is 5-6 with a 3.96 ERA and 20 saves in 84 appearances.

Long, 28, batted .295 with three home runs, 19 doubles and 28 RBIs in 136 games with the Padres in 2004, his first with the club. Over parts of six seasons with the New York Mets (1999), Oakland Athletics (2000-03) and Padres (2004), Long has a career batting average of .268 with 63 home runs and 321 RBIs in 741 games.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from November 8, 2004


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