mlb.com Rockies add Kim to bullpen mix

[Sharon]

03/30/2005 8:58 PM ET Rockies add Kim to bullpen mix Righty went 8-5 with a 3.18 ERA and 16 saves for Boston By Thomas Harding / MLB.com

 

TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Colorado Rockies added bullpen depth and experience by acquiring right-hander Byung-Hyun Kim from the Boston Red Sox for catcher Charles Johnson and minor league left-hander Chris Narveson on Wednesday afternoon.

Kim, 26, is a few years removed from his work as closer for the 2001 World Series champion Diamondbacks and his 36-save season of 2002. While with Boston, he alarmed scouts both last season (2-1, 6.23 ERA, seven games, three games started) and this spring with subpar fastball velocity. But the Rockies, who pursued him throughout the winter, are expected to place sore-shouldered right-hander Chin-hui Tsao on the disabled list and need relief help.

"He is what he is right now," said manager Clint Hurdle. "You're never going to get a 'B.K.' Kim when he's good. So [this is] the only way we'd go for a player like that. We're looking for a player with experience, who's had a history of success. He's pitched big games, he's pitched big outs."

Speaking of outs, Johnson is finally out of Colorado after months of speculation, and close to his long-rumored destination, Tampa Bay. The Red Sox designated him for assignment and released him, and he could sign with the Devil Rays by early next week.

Plenty of money changed hands as well. Boston will pay all but $362,000 of Kim's $6 million salary for 2005. Colorado is responsible for all but $500,000 of the $9 million guaranteed for Johnson, who waived the $1 million relocation fee that had been an issue in trade talks this winter.

The talk in Boston's camp in Fort Myers, Fla., was that Kim needed a change of scenery.

After Arizona traded Kim to Boston in 2003, he went 8-5 with a 3.18 ERA and 16 saves as a reliever for the Red Sox. But he faltered toward the end and enraged fans by making an obscene gesture to jeering Fenway Park fans while being introduced before Game 3 of the American League Division Series against Oakland. He started last season on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis.

In his career, Kim is 31-28 with 86 saves and a 3.37 ERA in 299 Major League games.

Despite a trip to the minors and a trip to Korea to fix what was believed to be an imbalance in his legs, he never became a factor for the World Series champion. This spring, Colorado scouts clocked Kim's fastball at 86-87 mph and felt that it was improving, but he became expendable to the Red Sox when they acquired left-hander Mike Myers from St. Louis.

"In the end, we kind of ran out of time," said Boston general manager Theo Epstein. "I'm not sure it would have happened for him in Boston, regardless of the amount of time he had. He was crying for a change of scenery if anyone ever was. We'll see what happens. It was certainly a mystery."

With an inexperienced bullpen and a hole caused by Tsao's rotator cuff inflammation, the Rockies were ready to take a crack at solving the mystery.

Kim, who will join the Rockies in Albuquerque on Friday before the team's exhibition game against Texas, will pitch in middle relief, possibly for multiple innings, early in the season. Whenever Tsao recovers -- Colorado will announce whether he'll be placed on the DL after meeting with him on Thursday -- the plan is to ease him into the closer job.

The Rockies are banking on Kim's familiarity and success in the National League West from his Arizona days to help him regain his form. In addition, in recent seasons, Hurdle and pitching coach Bob Apodaca have succeeded with Darren Oliver and Shawn Estes, veterans who regained their form with the Rockies. In addition, Jerry Dipoto, Colorado's pro scouting director, worked as a Red Sox scout last season and is familiar with Kim.

"Jerry Dipoto's got a real good feel for him, and Bob Apodaca and Clint Hurdle have done a great job before with such situations," said Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd.

Hurdle welcomes the challenge.

"He's on the downside now," said Hurdle. "His arm strength is increasing somewhat from the reports I've gotten. So that'd be the guy you'd want."

Johnson, 33, was the Rockies' No. 1 catcher in 2003 and early in 2004, but his playing time diminished when Colorado began grooming rookie JD Closser, and Johnson used his no-trade clause to block a deadline deal to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In two seasons, he batted .233 with 33 home runs and 108 RBIs.

The Rockies obtained Narveson from St. Louis as part of the package for outfielder Larry Walker. Narveson went 0-3 with a 3.15 ERA at Double-A Tulsa after the trade. The Rockies were hoping he would pitch in the Triple-A Colorado Springs rotation and regain the form he showed before undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery in 2002.

In other moves on Wednesday, the Rockies announced that right-hander Aaron Cook, who is still recovering from surgery made necessary by blood clots that formed in both lungs late last season, has been placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25. In addition, the Rockies said that right-handed reliever Aaron Taylor had cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Left-hander Darren Oliver, who balked at going to Colorado's bullpen after trying to make the team as a non-roster starter, has left camp to consider his options.

Thomas Harding is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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