Aucoin, Floyd farmed by Expos
(c) 1996 Copyright Nando.net
(c) 1996 Associated Press

VERO BEACH, Fla. (Mar 27, 1996 - 19:45 EST) -- Pitcher Derek Aucoin and outfielder Cliff Floyd were assigned to Class AAA Ottawa on Wednesday as the Montreal Expos trimmed their roster to the 25-man limit.

Others sent to the Ottawa Lynx were outfielder Ray McDavid, pitcher Ben Rivera, infielder Francisco Matos and catcher Gilberto Reyes.

Pitcher Trey Witte was returned to the Seattle Mariners while catcher Chris Howard was traded to the New York Mets for a player to be named later.

Manager Felipe Alou admitted the toughest cuts to make were Aucoin and Floyd.

"I know Derek Aucoin will be an important player here one day," Alou said of the six-foot-seven right-hander, who was celebrating his 26th birthday. "I'm not just talking about him drawing spectators to the games -- I'm talking about what he can do for us on the field."

He said Aucoin, a Canadian, needs to pitch regularly while Floyd, who missed nearly all of last season with a badly shattered wrist, needs to rediscover his batting stroke.

"I know it's tough for Floyd," Alou said. "The strike slowed down his progress and then he had a terrible injury.

"We're talking about a guy who was on his way to being a big star."

Aucoin is to become the bullpen closer while Floyd is to play some third base as well as the outfield in Ottawa.

"This is a bad day," said Floyd, who three seasons ago was the hottest minor-league prospect in baseball. "I'm not looking forward to phoning my mother and my friends to say that, after two years in the majors, I'm going back to triple-A.

"But I'm not surprised. I could see it coming. But it's still hard to accept."

Floyd was unable to beat out Henry Rodriguez or Sherman Obando for the right field job.

But should he find his batting eye, he could be back with the Expos. Floyd remains a versatile defensive player with exceptional speed.

"Now, I've got to find out what I'm made of," said Floyd.

Aucoin was no less upset at not making the major-league team.

"When I came to camp, I felt I was ready for the Expos," said Aucoin, who spent most of last season at Class AA Harrisburg before joining Ottawa for the playoffs. "But I think I pitched well here.

"I didn't make a fool of myself." (go to list)