Giants trade Gators' Aardsma to Cubs
Published on May 28, 2005 under Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
(Norwich, Conn.) -- The San Francisco Giants, the parent team of the Norwich Navigators, announced a trade earlier today with the Chicago Cubs which sent Gators Right-hander David Aardsma and Fresno (AAA, Pacific Coast) Right-hander Jerome Williams to the Cubs for Right-hander LaTroy Hawkins.
Aardsma, 23, began the year on the Fresno roster but was assigned to Norwich on April 11 and made his first appearance of the season that day, out of the pen. He was moved to the starting rotation on April 16. This year with the Navigators he was 6-2 with a 2.93 ERA. His 6 wins were tied for second in the Eastern League. He was the Giants' first selection in the first round of the 2003 draft, the 22nd pick overall. Aardsma was selected from Rice University which had just won the 2003 College World Series with Aardsma as their closer. He opened the 2004 season with San Francisco, appearing in 11 games at the Major League level, but spent most of his time in Triple-A.
Hawkins, 31, was 1-4 with 4 saves in 8 opportunities and a 3.32 ERA in 21 relief appearances with the Cubs this year. He signed with the Cubs as a free agent in December 2003 after spending 13 years in the Minnesota Twins organization, nine at the Major League level. He was originally selected by the Twins in the 7th round of the 1991 draft, taken from Gary West Side High School in Gary, Indiana. According to the San Francisco Giants website San Francisco Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Sabean said "LaTroy's acquisition certainly strengthens and deepens our bullpen, which obviously needs bolstering." Hawkins has never pitched in the Eastern League.
Jerome Williams, also 23, began this year with San Francisco, going 0-2 in four games - three as a starter - and a 6.48 ERA in 16.2 innings before getting sent down. With Fresno at the time of the trade he had started six games posting a 1-4 record with a 9.39 ERA in 30.2 innings. Williams was the Giants second first round selection in 1999, a supplemental pick, taken from Waipahu High School in Hawaii as the 39th selection overall. He made his Big League debut on April 26 and spent all of 2004 with the Giants.
The Navigators are currently home through June 2nd. No immediate roster move has been announced to replace Aardsma on the Norwich roster but pitchers Brian Mazone and Oscar Montero will be eligible to come off the inactive list Sunday.
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