DETROIT -- Consummating two days of intense talks 15 minutes before a 1 p.m. deadline, the Orioles yesterday provided Harold Baines the chance to achieve a career quest by trading the game's most prolific designated hitter to the Cleveland Indians for two minor-league pitchers.
The Orioles receive Single-A right-handed pitcher Juan Aracena and will acquire a second, more experienced pitcher by Oct. 4, according to Orioles general manager Frank Wren.
Wren and Indians general manager John Hart struck the deal two days after the Indians placed a waiver claim for Baines and starting pitcher Scott Erickson. Although Wren declined to address Erickson's availability, he acknowledged that the parties attempted to expand the deal before narrowing its focus to Baines. Before the July 31 waiver deadline, Wren had sought three players, including third base prospect Russell Branyan, in exchange for Erickson.
Had the teams not reached agreement by 1 p.m., Wren would have had to withdraw Baines from the waiver wire or lose him without compensation. Erickson was pulled back.
The pitcher to be named will come off the Indians' 40-man roster.
The deal, which marks the fifth time Baines has been traded during his 20-year major-league career, does not necessarily preclude the St. Michael's native from fulfilling a wish to end his career while playing for the Orioles. Baines is a pending free agent whom the Orioles will likely pursue after the season, leaving open the possibility of his third term with the club.
"This trade gives Harold an opportunity to play in the postseason again," Wren said. "At the same time, we received one young player and will receive another who can help us build for the future."
Aracena began the season with Columbus of the Single-A South Atlantic League before moving up to Kinston of the Single-A Carolina League, where he was 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA in five relief appearances. Because Kinston was playing the Orioles' Single-A affiliate in Frederick, Aracena could walk to his new team.
Baines, 40, is in the midst of a remarkable season that includes a career-high .322 batting average, as many home runs (24) as in any season since 1984, and a ratio of one RBI for every 4.2 at-bats. Part of his reward came last month when he was named to his sixth All-Star team and first since 1991. Baines' first half included a .345 average, 19 home runs and 63 of his 81 RBIs. Baines ranks 25th on the all-time RBI list (1,563), 41st in hits (2,761) and 43rd in home runs (372).
The Indians present Baines an opportunity to enjoy his first world championship. Baines gives the Indians' lineup an additional left-handed presence while center fielder Kenny Lofton remains on the disabled list, where he landed July 27. Indians manager Mike Hargrove said he expects Baines to play about five games a week in a rotation with Richie Sexson, David Justice and Jim Thome at DH.
Last night, in his first Cleveland at-bat, he singled off the wall in left-center, driving in the Indians' only runs in a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Wren had discussed the possibility of a trade with Baines last month. Though happy to remain in Baltimore on an underachieving fourth-place club, Baines did not resist the idea of moving to a team certain to make the postseason. Wren described the soft-spoken hitter's reaction to the news as "as enthusiastic as Harold can be."
Hart said: "We were able to pick up a quality professional bat. Harold Baines is having a fabulous year, and it doesn't hurt that he hits left-handed, especially because of the injuries we have."
Baines has long been a favorite of Orioles majority owner Peter Angelos, who was so outraged at his loss via free agency after the 1995 season that he prodded former general manager Pat Gillick to reacquire him in 1997. Baines validated the move by batting .300 in each of the past three seasons.
"Harold Baines is the type player you wish you had 25 of; that's the type person he is," Wren said.
Earlier this summer, Baines was rumored to be untouchable because of Angelos' resistance to dealing a player renowned for his quiet dignity as much as his production. But Wren said yesterday that Angelos had authorized a deal before the waiver deadline.
"In talking with ownership a couple times, the only hesitation we had was saying goodbye to a guy like Harold Baines. He's a fine person. The way we look at it is getting a couple of players made sense to the organization and the direction we wanted to go. Peter was actually very enthusiastic about continuing to stockpile young arms," Wren said.
Yesterday's deal further illustrates Wren's belief in acquiring an abundance of young pitchers who can serve the organization either with the major-league club or for use in future trades.
On July 31, the Orioles traded pending free-agent pitcher Juan Guzman to the Cincinnati Reds for left-handed reliever B. J. Ryan and 17-year-old starting pitcher Jacobo Sequea. Ryan was promoted yesterday to fill Baines' roster spot but could not join the team before the game because the airport in Rochester, N.Y., was closed. Miller will work with a short bench until rosters expand Sept. 1. His only pinch hitters last night were utility player Rich Amaral, infielder Jeff Reboulet and backup catcher Mike Figga, who had combined for a .222 average, one home run and 17 RBIs in 302 at-bats.
"I think in the couple trades we've made, we have gotten four players who are pretty significant," said Wren, declining to name the second pitcher because he has yet to clear waivers. "That's how you get better."
International scouting supervisor Jeff Wren and cross-checker Don Welke both field positive reports on Aracena, who played for the Dominican national team at the recent Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Last night, Baines traveled back one time zone and moved up 20 games in the standings.
Rushing from the airport, Baines arrived at the ballpark 50 minutes before the first pitch. Before dressing, he stopped in the office of Hargrove, who had him penciled in at DH and batting fifth.
"I said, 'I've got you in the starting lineup,' " Hargrove recalled. "Are you tired? And he said, 'A little, let me put my uniform on.' "
Baines, wearing No. 33, then hit a two-run single in the first for all the runs the Indians would get or need.
"That pretty much sums up what he's all about," Hargrove said.
Baines fell behind 1-2 in the count before slapping the hit to left-center. As he stood at first base, the Indians' 356th consecutive sellout crowd gave him a standing ovation.
Baines said he wasn't shocked at the trade -- "Nothing surprises me in baseball" -- but expected to be dealt before the July 31 waiver deadline, not now.
As much as he enjoyed playing in Baltimore, there is nothing Baines wants more to close out a stellar career than a World Series ring.
"It's nice to be playing for something," he said.
Baines and the Orioles flew to Detroit from Kansas City late Thursday night. He wasn't informed of the trade until 1: 30 yesterday afternoon and had to quickly get his things together to get to Cleveland.
"They wanted me here right away," he said. "It's been a long day."
Playoff-tested
Harold Baines brings plenty of postseason experience to the Indians. A look at his stats:
Yr Team AB R HHR RBIAvg.
Division
Series '97
Orioles 5 2 2 1 1 .400
Championship Series
'83 W. Sox 16 0 2 0 0 .125
'90 A's 14 2 5 0 3 .357
'92 A's 25 611 1 4.440
'97 Orioles 17 1 6 1 2 .353
World Series
'90 A's 7 1 1 1 2 .143
Totals 841227 4 12 .321