Oakland, CA (My Sportsbook) - The Oakland Athletics have traded pitcher Cory Lidle to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for a pair of minor leaguers. Lidle was just 8-10 with a 3.89 earned run average this past season. He was at his best in August, posting a 5-0 record with a 32-inning scoreless streak, helping the Athletics to the American League West title. The righthander was 21-16 with a 3.74 ERA in the past two seasons with the Athletics. It is the second deal current Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi has pulled off in two years with his former team. Ricciardi, Oakland's player personnel director until last winter, acquired third baseman Eric Hinske from the Athletics for closer Billy Koch last winter. Hinske went on to win the AL Rookie of the Year in 2002 for Toronto and Koch saved 44 games for Oakland. The Athletics will receive infielder Mike Rouse and pitcher Chris Mowday. Rouse, a 22-year-old second baseman, hit .260 in 71 games at Double-A Tennessee this past season. Mowday, a 21-year-old righthander from Australia, was a combined 3-2 with a 2.99 ERA in 37 games at Single-A Dunedin and Charleston. |
