July 31: Former Goldeyes Reliever Sherrill Traded from Baltimore to the Dodgers

MINNEAPOLIS – Former Winnipeg Goldeyes reliever George Sherrill has been traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In one of the biggest moves at this year’s waiver-wire deadline, the Baltimore Orioles closer was traded to the Dodgers in exchange for slugging third base prospect Josh Bell and pitcher Steve Johnson. Both players are outstanding prospects.

Bell, who is 22, is ranked by Baseball America as the Dodgers' No. 8 prospect. A switch-hitter, he hit .296 with 11 home runs and 17 errors in 94 games at Double-A Chattanooga.

Johnson, 21, is ranked as the Dodgers' No. 15 prospect. He is the son of former Orioles pitcher Dave Johnson. He is 8-4 with a 3.82 earned-run average at Class A Inland Empire, with 42 walks and 102 strikeouts in 96 2/3 innings.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Dodgers will use Sherrill as “an eighth and ninth inning guy,” the set-up man for closer Jonathan Broxton. However, while he was disappointed to leave Baltimore, he will be going to a team with a legitimate chance to win the World Series.

"It's tough," Sherrill said. "It was fun getting to play in Baltimore. This is where I got to be a closer. It was one of those things where it was flattering to be involved in trade talks, but I liked Baltimore. I enjoyed coming here and getting to pitch in this division and getting to know the team and seeing the direction it is going in. I wanted to be part of this team’s development into a championship team.”

This will be Sherrll’s second move in 17 months. He was acquired by the Orioles from Seattle two seasons ago in the Erik Bedard trade. In Orioles spring training in 2008, Chris Ray was injured and Sherrill won the closer’s job. His 31 saves in 2008 tied him for second most by a first-year Oriole behind Lee Smith. He was a fan-favourite in Baltimore for two reasons: (1) the often wild and dramatic way in which he closed out games and (2) the odd way in which he wore his cap, cocked to one side without bending the brim. All of that earned him the nickname “The Brim Reaper.”

Goldeyes manager Rick Forney said last week that he couldn’t understand why Baltimore would want to rid itself of an experienced 32-year-old closer who could also serve as a set-up man or a situational lefthander.

“He’s a good lefthander and I don’t know why a team would want to trade away a good lefthander,” said Forney, who as the team’s pitching coach, played a major role in Sherrill’s move from the Goldeyes to the Majors in 2002 and 2003. “I think George can do so many things. I just don’t understand why they’d want to trade him away.”

This season in Baltimore, Sherrill had a 2.40 earned run average with 20 saves in 42 appearances.

"I enjoyed my time in Baltimore and I’m sad to go,” Sherrill said. “But I’m happy to have a shot to go to the playoffs."