Expos Trade Encarnacion to Cardinals, Pair Transferred to Edmonton
Published on May 1, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
EDMONTON, AB - The Montreal Expos announced today that outfielder Mario Encarnacion has been traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for a player to be named later. In addition, first baseman Luis Ortiz has been transferred from extended spring training to Triple-A Edmonton and right-handed pitcher Troy Mattes has been transferred to Edmonton from Double-A Harrisburg.
Mattes, 27, missed the entire 2002 season after undergoing right shoulder rotator cuff surgery on May 21. The procedure was performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama. Mattes, a native of Champaign, Illinois, was originally placed on the 15-day disabled list on March 22 with right shoulder tendinitis. He was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 6 and was designated for assignment by the Expos on October 1. He was originally selected by the Expos in the 16th round of the 1993 draft and has spent his entire career in the Montreal organization. Mattes reached the major leagues in 2001, going 3-3, 6.00 (45.0 IP - 30 ER) in eight starts with the Expos. He was 0-1, 5.68 (19.0 IP - 12 ER) in five appearances (three starts) with Harrisburg this season.
Ortiz, 32, was originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the eighth round of the 1991 draft. He spent four years in the Boston system, appearing in 16 games with the Red Sox. Ortiz was traded along with outfielder Otis Nixon to Texas in 1994 for outfielder Jose Canseco. He palyed in 44 games with the Rangers over the course of two seasons, before being signed as free agent by Yakult (Japan) in 1997. Between his time in Japan and signing with the Expos in 2001, he was also active in the farm systems of the Milwaukee Brewers, Arizona Diamondbacks and with Monterrey and Tabasco in Mexico. In June of 2001, he signed with the independent Winnipeg Goldeyes and the Expos signed him in August of the same year. He has played in 60 Major League games, batting .228 with two home runs. In the minor leagues, he has appeared in over 900 games and has posted a .303 career batting average.
Encarnacion, 27, hit .313-1-6 in 16 games with the Trappers this season. He began his career in the Oakland A's Organization signing as a non-drafted free agent in July of 1994. He spent seven years in the A's system, before being traded to the Colorado Rockies in 2001. Encarnacion was claimed on waivers by the Chicago Cubs in 2002 and appeared in three games in a Cubs uniform. The Expos signed him as a free agent in January of 2003.
The Trappers next game at TELUS Field will be on Friday, May 2 against the Tucson Sidewinders. Game time is 7:05 PM. Tickets for all regular season home games are on sale and can be purchased through Ticketmaster at 451-8000. Twenty-game packs, ten-game packs and 2003 season tickets are also currently on sale at the Trapper General Office. For more information call 414-4450.
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