BERARDINO: Floyd's anger simmers
Published September 12, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- Even now, two months later, the wounds remain fresh.

The strangest season of Cliff Floyd's career has deposited him in the middle of two separate pennant races, first in Montreal, then in Boston. He is playing through a series of nagging injuries (groin, hip flexor and left knee) and winning new admirers in an unfamiliar market.

"He's been a pleasure to have on the club," Red Sox interim General Manager Mike Port says. "He has played with passion."

So much has happened for and to Floyd these past two months, but part of the former Marlins outfielder will never get over what went down at the All-Star break.

"It hurt me," Floyd was saying this week in the visiting clubhouse at Tropicana Field. "You know what I mean? Hurt me."

After 5½ seasons in South Florida, the Marlins shipped him to the Expos on July 11, but it wasn't just getting traded that hurt. Floyd had already been through that as a young player.

Rather, it was the way the situation was handled that hacks him off to this day. He will be a free agent for the first time this winter, but he has already scratched one team off his list in angry red pen.

Sadly, it's the same team he desperately wanted to commit to earlier this season, if only they had been interested in his proposals of a hometown discount or heavily backloaded deal.

"It's almost to the point if all the other teams in the game said, `We don't want to sign Cliff Floyd,' and the Marlins did, I wouldn't go," he says, eyes flashing. "I'd retire or go to Japan."

Maybe some of this is frustration talking -- Floyd has hit .288 with just eight home runs and 14 RBI in the second half -- but the longer you listen to him, the more you can sense his pain is real.

It's the last few weeks of his Marlins tenure that left a particularly sour taste in his mouth. He wonders, for instance, why Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria told the team in late June that the club would be kept together, only to renege on that promise a few weeks later.

"It's understandable they couldn't keep me over there, but just don't lie to the guys then," Floyd says. "Tell everybody the truth, and we would have understood."

Floyd won't soon forget the way the Marlins rebuffed his agents' efforts to negotiate a long-term deal in a July 1 meeting at Pro Player Stadium. He still feels anger toward club President David Samson, who Floyd says made it clear he wasn't the sort of player who could make a difference in saving South Florida baseball.

"[Samson] was basically saying, `We know we're going to lose. Why lose the little money we make?'" Floyd says. "Who the heck is Cliff Floyd? Nobody. Nobody who's going to do anything for him. He could care less about me.

"I don't think all of them felt that way, but I think he did. That's the way I feel about him. Who cares about him? I could care less who he is."

Samson disputes Floyd's version of the meeting, calling it "hearsay" and saying his discussion with Floyd's agents was "just a conversation about the franchise."

Nor did Floyd care for Samson's comments on ESPN in mid-July during a Marlins-Braves telecast. According to Floyd, Samson said the Marlins were a better team without him, but Samson says he was taking the long view, given what it likely would have cost to retain Floyd beyond this year.

Samson also disputes the notion of a possible hometown discount, saying, "That was not the indication we had."

Floyd isn't buying it. He still seethes at Samson.

"He's not good for baseball," he says. "You think I would ever tell somebody to go play for him? Please. That's the worst guy in the world. ... He thinks because he talks so clever, everybody is supposed to listen to him and say, `Wow, he makes a lot of sense.' He makes none to me."

Just as painful was the way the club left Floyd hanging over his final 10 days, wondering if, when and where he would be traded.

The daily trade rumors. The surreal scene of the long, rainy Sunday just before the break, when ESPN kept flashing reports of an imminent deal while the front office kept Floyd and even Marlins manager Jeff Torborg in the dark.

"Jeff Torborg was the only one that stood up and said, `I wish this never happened,'" Floyd says. "They didn't keep him informed. It was sad. He had no idea. He was out of the loop."

Floyd also wonders why he wound up spending three weeks in Montreal, where his knees took a pounding on the artificial turf, when a series of legitimate contenders, all of whom played their home games on grass, had shown interest.

"Of all the things that happened, that was mind-boggling," he said. "The Yankees wanted me. Done deal. Send me up there? Naw. Red Sox were getting ready to want me. Atlanta was talking, the Mets were talking, Anaheim, San Francisco, the Dodgers. You send me to Montreal?"

He shakes his head and laughs softly.

"To me that whole thing boiled down to disrespect," he continues. "You're going to trade me? Come and tell me. I'm a big boy. Tell me I'm gone. Talk to me: `We know you hate turf. We know it would be bad for you career to send you to somebody that's going to hurt you.'

"Say, `What do you think would help you out because you've done a lot for this organization? You work hard, never give us any static, you really do things to help us.' I tried to do everything in the community; I tried to do everything to help them publicly, tried to tell people it was going to be OK."

In the Marlins' defense, they are hardly the only team that would ignore a player's best interests in making a deal. Didn't the Expos, in that very same trade, force veteran reliever Graeme Lloyd to go to a Marlins team that had previously been on his no-trade list?

Those are just semantics to Floyd. He has swallowed his pride for too long, suffered too many slights and insults to see it the Marlins' way now.

He will be richly rewarded this winter, a well-deserved payday for a good soldier and good guy whose career nearly ended seven years ago with a gruesome wrist injury. But no matter how much loot some owner throws at him, he will never forget his messy exit from South Florida.

Nor will he ever forgive the Loria-Samson axis for putting him through two weeks of hell.

"That's how [little] respect I got," Floyd says. "I'm not a superstar, but they would have done that to Barry Bonds. They would have done it to the nicest guy in the world. They mistreat everybody. People say you don't want to step on any toes. Well, some people you don't care about. That's one bridge I'm not afraid to burn." (go to list)

Floyd traded to Red Sox
By Ian Browne / MLB.com

BOSTON -- With less than 24 hours to go before the trade deadline, the Red Sox fortified their playoff hopes late Tuesday night, acquiring star left-handed hitter Cliff Floyd from the Montreal Expos for two pitching prospects and a player to be named later.

Floyd had been dealt from Florida to Montreal on July 11, but with the Expos swiftly falling out of contention, they no longer felt the need for a man who has 21 homers and 61 RBIs.

Making the trade even sweeter for Boston is they didn't lose anyone from their Major League roster. Instead, they sent minor league righties Sunny Kim and Seung Song to the Expos. Both Kim (2-0, 7.45 ERA in two stints with Red Sox this season) and the 22-year-old Song are natives of Korea.

The Red Sox hadn't found a consistent number five hitter all year, and Floyd - who hit 31 homers and drove in 103 runs in 2001 -- is the perfect guy to hit behind superstars Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez. Manager Grady Little will sleep on it before making a definitive decision on Floyd's place in the lineup.

Complete coverage > "Cliff Floyd will blend right in here," said Little. "We have guys in the lineup who hit it hard, and I think Cliff will hit it as hard as anyone in the game."

"He's going to be an offensive force for us," said Red Sox interim GM Mike Port. "It gives Grady a chance to keep an awful lot of good bats in the lineup."

The Red Sox don't have an outfield opening, with Ramirez, Johnny Damon and Trot Nixon forming one of the best trios in the game. But they've lacked production at first base, so the 29-year-old Floyd figures to see time there, as well as DH and left field when Ramirez's legs need some rest.

Floyd has been a left fielder most of his career, though he played first base in his first stint (1993-96) with the Expos.

The Red Sox trail the Yankees by five games in the AL East, and are just one game behind the Angels in the Wild Card hunt.

The only difficult part of the trade for the Red Sox was parting with Song, who led the Red Sox minor league system last season with a 1.90 ERA and 135 strikeouts. At Double-A Trenton this season, Song was 7-7 with a 4.39 ERA in 21 starts.

But considering the upside of gaining a player with Floyd's production capabilities, it was a no-brainer.

"This is an indication of our commitment to win," said Port, who didn't rule out adding a pitcher before Wednesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline. "It's never easy to give up good young players."

"It's an obvious upgrade," said Red Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino. "It addresses what Grady identifies as his top need."

With a solid front four of Damon-Nixon-Garciaparra-Ramirez, Floyd fills the need for another RBI man.
Said Floyd: "I know some guys there. I know (first base coach) Tommy Harper, I know some players, I know the owner (John Henry), and like I said, there's a lot of positives instead of negatives. I look at it as a great opportunity to go and try to win a ring."

The acquisition of Floyd likely means a big cutdown in playing time for Tony Clark and Jose Offerman, the first base pair that has struggled mightily all season.

Boston wasn't sure when Floyd would join the team, though Wednesday night in Anaheim is a strong possibility according to Little. The Red Sox go to Texas for a four-game series beginning Thursday.

One factor in the deal that shouldn't be overlooked is that principal Boston owner John Henry is intimately familiar with Floyd from their days together with the Marlins. In fact, it was Henry who signed Floyd to the contract that expires following this season. The possibility of extending Floyd's contract before the deal was agreed on wasn't considered.

"Floyd is a free agent at the end of the year, and by virtue of his past relationship with Mr. Henry, we feel we will be on a good tract to try and re-sign him," said Port. "There were other clubs competing with us. Our focus was just getting the deal done. "

And once it was, Floyd picked up the phone and called the man who will once again be his boss.

"I was just talking to him, he had a smile from ear to ear," said Henry. "He hits lefties just as much as righties. He's going to provide some real excitement every time he comes to the plate."

Despite a homer in his final game with the Expos, Floyd couldn't sustain anything in his brief second tour of duty in Montreal. He hit .208 in 15 games, and the Expos were 7-11 in his time on board. The Expos are 53-53, and 15 games behind Atlanta in the NL East.

"I talked it over with (Expos manager) Frank Robinson, and like I said, it's one of those tough decisions you have to make as a general manager," said Expos GM Omar Minaya. "And I felt this was the best thing to do right now."

It was also best for Floyd.

"I'm going to a great situation -- Boston has a great team," Floyd said. "It's an unfortunate situation here (in Montreal). I wish we would have done better, but we didn't. I played a big part of it; I didn't do as well as I thought I should have. I felt my swing starting to come around, so hopefully I can go help pitch in."

Floyd wasn't concerned with going to an AL team for the first time in his career.

"I think I'm a big boy now and I can handle different types of situations," he said. "I'm going to go there and do my thing. I always told myself that American League pitching is -- no disrespect -- but I thought it was an offspeed-pitching league, and I thought I was a pretty good offspeed hitter. Hopefully that'll come in my favor, and I can go help this team win some games." (go to list)

Florida Marlins' Cliff Floyd expects to be traded very soon
Jul. 6, 2002. 07:40 PM

MIAMI (AP) — Florida outfielder Cliff Floyd expects to be traded by the all-star break, but the Marlins haven't given him any indication when or if it will happen.

``I guess this junk will be over by the time the all-star break is over,'' Floyd said Saturday. ``Everybody knows I have no control over it, but it cannot become a distraction. It cannot become something that's going to have my teammates look at me in a different way.

``It's all me-me-me and where I'm going. That's why I wish (the Marlins) would just make the move or come out and say I'm not getting traded. They're keeping everybody in the dark.''

Floyd said last week the Montreal Expos were one of the six teams listed in a no-trade clause in his contract, but corrected himself Saturday, realizing he had removed the Expos from the list last winter.

He replaced the Expos with the San Francisco Giants because he feared the Giants might seek him as a replacement for free agent Barry Bonds. And he didn't want to deal with the pressure of trying to replace Bonds.

Floyd, a 2001 all-star making $6.5 million this season, also can block a trade to the Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Texas Rangers.

Those teams were put on the list because they either played on artificial turf or because Floyd didn't think they were headed in the right direction. He said he would gladly accept a trade to the Expos.

``They're a good team. . . . They are getting better,'' said Floyd, who prefers not to play on artificial turf because of past knee problems. ``Things aren't what you would like to see in terms of revenue and fans, but you're talking about my knees, something that can shorten my career.'' (go to list)

Red Sox closing in on top draftees
By John Tomase
Staff Writer
Friday, August 9, 2002

BOSTON -- The Red Sox appear to be nearing deals with their top two draft picks. But the big one might get away.

According to a source in the scouting department, the Sox expect to sign their top two draft picks, Washington high school left-hander Jonathan Lester (2nd round, 57th overall) and Georgia high school shortstop Scott White (3rd, 88th) before each attend college classes and the Red Sox lose their rights.

Lester has committed to Arizona State and White to Georgia Tech.

The source said the Sox are less optimistic on highly touted high school righty Jason Neighborgall, a top five talent who slipped into the seventh round for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is he's represented by hard-line agent Scott Boras.

Neighborgall has a scholarship offer to Georgia Tech and according to the source seeks a $7 million signing bonus.

That's at least $2 million more than the Red Sox want to offer. After multiple meetings with the Neighborgall family, scouting director David Chadd is preparing the team's first formal offer to the right-handed pitcher from North Carolina.

A farewell to Offie

The Red Sox made a surprising waiver deal, sending infielder Jose Offerman to the Seattle Mariners for cash considerations.

Boston owed Offerman the remaining $2,131,149 of this year's $6.5 million salary, and a $2 million buyout of an $8 million club option for 2003. Seattle must pay at least $57,923 of that, a prorated share of the $200,000 minimum.

The cash portion of the deal means Seattle will in effect take on more of Offerman's remaining salary. Offerman cleared waivers and Seattle made the deal before the Red Sox granted him his unconditional release because at least one other team, believed to be Cincinnati, also had interest.

"We've got an agreement with Boston that we find quite favorable," Mariners GM Pat Gillick said. "Right now the addition of Offerman works within our guidelines."

Offerman hit .232 with the Red Sox and fell out of favor with the coaching staff after (a) getting thrown out trying to steal third against the Yankees; (b) losing track of the number of outs and getting picked off first; and (c) refusing to pinch run.

After getting released in Texas, he unleashed an expletive laden tirade at general manager Mike Port and the media.

Floyd throws Zito a curve

Cliff Floyd hit his first home run as a member of the Red Sox and got his first two Fenway Park hits with the team last night.

Floyd had a rather unorthodox approach to dominant Oakland starter Barry Zito. Zito's best pitch is a knee-buckling 12-to-6 curveball, so Floyd told himself he'd only swing at the curveball.

Never mind that it makes left-handers like Floyd look foolish. Floyd noticed on video that Zito rarely wastes the curve, so he hung in against it.

When it was over, Floyd singled, lined to center and homered on the three curveballs he swung at, and grounded into a double play on the lone fastball.

"If I keep trying to hit the fastball, I'm going to have a hard time with the curve," Floyd said. "He only throws 86. I figured I could adjust to a fastball. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

"Watching tape early in the game, I noticed he throws the curve for a strike. Our guys told me not to give up on it, because I'd strike out. I made sure I stayed with it, and once I made my little step out, I was ready to hit it."

Floyd's eighth inning homer proved crucial, because it gave Ugueth Urbina a three-run cushion in the ninth. Urbina needed it after Dave Justice homered and Eric Chavez and Terrence Long nearly followed suit. (go to list)

Mets introduce Floyd to media
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com

NEW YORK - Cliff Floyd has heard the questions.

Was giving him a big-money contract a risk considering his injury-plagued history? Did he always hustle when he was on the field? Was Floyd's effort always his best? He knew people had doubts and it bothered him.

Floyd had a simple answer, though, for anyone who doubted him before Monday afternoon's introductory press conference at Shea Stadium. Watch me, the newest Met told the media gathering at the Diamond Club. Watch me and see.

"I heard some things this off-season that kind of bothered me about my play," said Floyd, who will make $6.5 million per season for the next four years. "There have been questions about my play and about how I hustle and about how I go about my game. That bothered me because when I go out on the field, I give 110 percent every time. All I can do now is just show everybody.

"I heard that I didn't hustle after a lot of balls when the game wasn't on the line. I pride myself on hustling. That's the one thing that you can bring to the table every night. If you go 0-for-4 and hustle you can sleep very well at night. That's not something I have to work on, it's something that I'm about."

Floyd, who will wear No. 30, said that he read a scouting report on the Internet that implied he didn't hustle. And, he said that reading such criticism proved hurtful. He pointed to the Florida teams on which he played as an example. Though the team wasn't always successful, it never gave up. Not going all out was met with resistance from the other 24 members of the team.

Mets general manager Steve Phillips, however, had no such reservations about Floyd. His scouting report was all positive and Floyd, who was injured quite a bit earlier in his career, passed his physical with the Mets, leaving no doubts as to his health. He'll slot into the third spot in the batting order and give New York a left-handed presence to compliment Mike Piazza.

"Obviously last year we struggled offensively," Phillips said. "We set our sights on what we could do to reconfigure and reconstruct and add more offense. We feel very fortunate to bring Cliff Floyd into the Mets organization. Obviously he presents a huge offensive threat from the left side of the plate. He will be a real asset."

Floyd hit .288 last season while playing for the Marlins, Expos and Red Sox, collecting 28 homers and 79 RBIs in 146 games. He has remained healthy over the last five seasons, compiling a .303 batting average against left-handers, the second highest mark in the majors over that span behind Colorado's Larry Walker [.345].

While the slugger's numbers weren't as eye-popping last season, he said much of that had to do with the fact that he played for three teams and never really got into a groove with any one of them.

"Last year was crazy," Floyd said. "It was the worst time of my life. You kept wondering what's going to happen next. To get traded like that after being told you weren't going to be traded, that hurt. And in Boston, it just didn't feel right. But I knew I was only going to be there for a minute anyway."

The Mets also expect a big season from Floyd because of the off-season conditioning program he has begun. He's working out almost every day down in Miami with former teammate Charles Johnson as well as Dmitri Young and Jeffrey Hammonds. He's running every day and he has hired a nutrionist that has him on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet.

"I feel better now than I ever did as a youngster," said Floyd, whose best season came in 2001 with Florida. He hit .317 with 31 homers and 103 RBIs.

Floyd also feels better because of the stability that comes along with the new contract. He has a blanket no-trade clause for the 2003 season and a partial no-trade clause for each of the three remaining years on his deal. He's confident that he'll be in New York through 2006 and perhaps beyond.

"I like this stage [here]," Floyd said. "This is still kind of unreal for me. I want to be here for four years and hopefully even longer. Since I have been in the majors, I always dreamed of one day playing in New York. Now that dream has finally come true, I couldn't be happier."

Neither could the Mets. They have Floyd in their lineup and in their outfield. And he's ready to play. No questions asked. (go to list)

Mets bag Floyd in holiday rush
Splits on Bosox, arrives at Shea
By BILL MADDEN and JOHN HARPER
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERS
December 21, 2002

Cliff Floyd is headed to a Mets' outfield that seems a little crowded right now.

The Mets might have finished their Christmas shopping yesterday by adding a big bat and another big contract, agreeing with outfielder Cliff Floyd yesterday on a four-year, $26 million deal.

The signing, which becomes official only after Floyd passes a physical today, should add the kind of thump to the lineup the Mets thought they were getting last winter with a flurry of off-season deals.

It also turns up the heat on GM Steve Phillips to find a taker for at least one of last year's high-priced flops, Roger Cedeño and Jeromy Burnitz.

Fred Wilpon is determined not to be over the new luxury-tax payroll line at $117million, but the additions of Tom Glavine, Mike Stanton and now Floyd mean the Mets will have to dump salary somewhere or be taxed for their spending spree.

That Wilpon was willing to take that chance demonstrated his commitment to turn the Mets into winners again. And though no one from the organization wanted to comment until Floyd passes his physical, one high-level source called it "a deal we needed to do" to keep up with recent moves by the Braves and Phillies in the NLEast.

"With all of the other things going on in the division," the source said, "we felt we really needed to have this guy for our offense. He's a proven hitter and run producer, and he'll provide protection for Mike (Piazza) that we didn't have last year."

Floyd, meanwhile, was thrilled.

"This is a dream come true," he told the Daily News from his home in Plantation, Fla. "I'd come to New York in the past and I always said to myself, 'I just wish I could play here one day.' Now I'm here. I got it."
Like Glavine and Stanton, Floyd also said he wouldn't have considered such a move if Bobby Valentine was still managing the Mets. Floyd had a public spat with Valentine when the Mets' manager didn't pick him for the 2001 All-Star team, and then eventually added him as an injury replacement.

"It's safe to say that I agree with Glavine and Stanton," he said, "that if there hadn't been a manager change, the Mets wouldn't have been an option for me."

A lefthanded hitter, the 30-year-old Floyd hit .288 last season with 28 home runs, 43doubles and 79 RBI playing for the Marlins, Expos and Red Sox.

The Red Sox, who wanted to keep Floyd, offered him salary arbitration. However Floyd didn't enjoy his time there late last season and didn't want to return.

When the Sox tried and failed to work out a trade for him Thursday night in the event that he accepted arbitration, Floyd then rejected arbitration right at the midnight deadline, at least partly because he felt he could do a deal with the Mets.

It didn't hurt the Mets' cause that Floyd is represented by New Yorkers Seth and SamLevinson, who have had many dealings with the Mets' front office, including the Stanton signing earlier this week.

After negotiations stalled with GM Steve Phillips late Thursday night, the Levinsons got a deal done during a face-to-face meeting with Fred and Jeff Wilpon at Shea yesterday.

The Braves had made a late pitch for Floyd Thursday night, offering to trade 18-game winner Kevin Millwood to the RedSox for him (they wound up dealing Millwood to the Phillies for a top prospect yesterday).

Otherwise, the Dodgers were interested in Floyd, but he said he preferred the Mets.

"I'm 30 years old and I'm ready to be with a winner," said Floyd, who has spent most of his career with the Expos and Marlins. "I'm looking to having a big finish to my career."

Floyd said he'd welcome the task of hitting behind Piazza, if that's where Art Howe decided to hit him.
"Mike always told me, 'Why don't you come play on my team sometime?'" Floyd said. "I told him, 'I'd love to. I'll hit behind or you or in front of you, whatever you want. 'Well, here we go." (go to list)

New Met Floyd passes physical
By Kevin Czerwinski / MLB.com
12/21/2002 4:29 pm ET

NEW YORK -- Though the Mets had Cliff Floyd's signature on a contract, until Saturday he couldn't officially call Shea Stadium his new digs.

But after passing a physical at the New York Hospital for Joint Diseases on Saturday, the slugging outfielder's contract officially became valid. Floyd, who was examined by team physician Dr. Andrew Rokito, inked the four-year, $26 million deal on Friday. He will be officially introduced Monday at Shea at a 1 p.m. press conference.

Floyd, 30, turned down what was reported to be a three-year deal worth between $22 million and $24 million from Boston. Had he accepted arbitration from the Sox, he likely would have garnered a salary between $8 million and $10 million for 2003. Floyd hit seven homers while batting .316 in 47 games for the Red Sox after a July 30 trade with the Expos. He hit 28 homers, drove in 79 runs and batted .288 while dividing time between Boston, Montreal and Florida.

A productive corner outfielder, Floyd has overcome injury problems that plagued him earlier in his career to become one of the most potent offensive players in the game. He had his finest season in 2001 while playing for the Marlins, batting .317 with 31 homers and 103 RBIs. (go to list)

Mets, Floyd agree to multiyear deal
Contract is pending a physical on Saturday
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com

Cliff Floyd is on the move once again. He is about to join his fourth team within a year.

NEW YORK -- The Mets addressed their need for offensive production in the outfield on Friday, reaching an agreement with free agent slugger Cliff Floyd.

The four-year, $26 million contract is contingent on Floyd passing a physical on Saturday. The move comes less than 24 hours after Floyd declined arbitration from the Red Sox, leaving him free to negotiate with other clubs.

"It's awesome," Floyd told MLB.com. "I'm excited."

Floyd joins Tom Glavine and Mike Stanton as one of New York's big-name signings this winter.

The 30-year-old Floyd turned down what was believed to be a three-year deal worth between $22-24 million from Boston. Had he accepted arbitration, he likely would have garnered a salary between $8-10 million for 2003. Floyd hit seven homers and 18 runs while batting .316 in 47 games for the Red Sox after a July 30 trade with the Expos. He hit 28 homers, drove in 79 runs and batted .288 while dividing time between Boston, Montreal and Florida.

"Cliff is a fine player and a fine person," Boston general manager Theo Epstein said. "The entire Red Sox organization and me personally, we wish him well. If Cliff had accepted (arbitration), we really would not have had that much flexibility to address other needs. But if he did accept, we would have had Cliff -- a talented left-handed bat in the middle of the lineup."

Now, however, the Mets will be able to take advantage of Floyd's talented left-handed bat. A productive corner outfielder, Floyd has overcome injury problems that plagued him earlier in his career to become one of the most potent offensive players in the game. He had his finest season in 2001 while playing for the Marlins, batting .317 with 31 homers and 103 RBIs.

"Oh my gosh, I am speechless," Mets catcher Vance Wilson said. "What an addition. This obviously puts an All-Star caliber bat in the left side of the lineup that's equal to Mike [Piazza]. Any time you can get that kind of presence, wow. It's incredible."

New York's outfield was among the most unproductive in the Major Leagues last season. It finished last in batting average in right field and was next to last in the National League in homers and RBIs among left fielders. Now, however, with Floyd in tow and most likely batting third, the Mets have potentially a powerful middle of the lineup with Mike Piazza batting cleanup and Mo Vaughn batting fifth.
The Mets have maintained that they would have to move some salary in order to sign a player of Floyd's caliber. His arrival in New York could mean that the departure of either Roger Cedeno or Jeromy Burnitz, or both, is imminent. The pair will make close to $16 million in 2003.

"Obviously one of our other outfielders will have to go," Wilson said. "But I've enjoyed playing with Jeromy and Roger and would be sad to see either of them go. We'll have to wait and see if that's the case."

New York general manager Steve Phillips had been talking with Colorado about the possibility of sending Burnitz out West. Though that deal appeared dead as recently as Thursday, the signing of Floyd could jump-start talks between the two clubs. (go to list)

Red Sox acquire outfielder Cliff Floyd from the Montreal Expos

BOSTON, MA -- This evening the Red Sox acquired OF Cliff Floyd from the Montreal Expos in exchange for RHP Sun-Woo Kim, currently with Pawtucket (AAA), Trenton (AA) RHP Seung Song, and a player-to-be-named.

Floyd, 29, began this season batting .313 with 10 HR and 20 RBI in 24 games during the month of April, marking his first career 10-HR month and the 9th time he recorded 20 or more RBI in a month. In his 24 April games, the 6-4, 235-pounder also scored 23 runs and notched a .699 slugging percentage. In 28 games during May, he hit .282 with nine doubles, three HR, and 14 RBI. The left-handed hitter was batting .287 with 18 HR and 57 RBI with Florida prior to the July 11 3-team, 8-player trade that sent him to the Montreal Expos, who had originally drafted Floyd in the first round of the 1991 June Draft. Through 98 games this season (prior to tonight's action), he was hitting .282 (95-345) with 55 runs, 22 doubles, 20 HR, 60 RBI, 11 SB, a .395 on-base pct., and a .513 slugging pct. Overall in 10 seasons in the majors, Floyd has a .283 average (836-2957) in 907 games with 204 doubles, 17 triples, 124 HR, 489 RBI, and 111 SB. Tonight against Arizona, Floyd hit a solo homer in the 2nd inning.

In 2001, Floyd earned National League All-Star honors and finished the season notching career-highs with a .317 batting average, 176 hits, 31 home runs, 103 RBI, and 123 runs scored. Batting with men in scoring position last season, Floyd hit .324 (46-142) with 14 HR, 79 RBI, a .451 on-base pct., and a .704 slugging pct. He hit .300 or better for the third consecutive season and recorded his first-career 100-RBI season. Against left-handed pitching in 2001, he hit .311 (46-148) with nine HR, 34 RBI, a .376 on-base pct., and a .581 slugging pct., while batting .319 (130-407) versus righties with 22 HR, 69 RBI, a .394 on-base pct., and a .577 slugging pct. Floyd recorded a career-best 18-game hitting streak from June 4-25, during which he hit .406 (28-69). Against AL pitching during inter-league play in 2001, Floyd hit safely in 16 of his 17 games and ranked seventh in the majors with a .394 average (28-71), while recording a .429 on-base pct. and a .704 slugging pct.

During the past four seasons (1999-2002), Floyd has an overall .301 average (473-1571) with 290 runs, 84 HR, 303 RBI, 115 2B, and 58 SB. He has also batted .345 (10-29) against the Yankees since 1999. Batting with men in scoring position during that period, he has notched a .309 average (138-446) with 28 HR and 220 RBI. Floyd also has a .303 mark (345-1138) with 59 HR and 217 RBI against right-handed pitching since 1999.

Floyd was originally drafted 14th overall in the first round of the 1991 June Draft and he spent just one full season in the Expos minor league system before making his ML debut as a September call-up in 1993. He made his first Opening Day roster in 1994 and hit .281 (94-334) in 100 games. During his breakout season in 1998 with the Marlins, he hit .282 with a then career-high 22 homers and 90 RBI in a career-high 153 games. In 2000, Floyd matched his career-high with 22 HR and recorded 91 RBI in just 121 games. He was one of just nine players in the Majors to record a 20-20 season in 2000 (22 HR, 24 SB).

Floyd was the Marlins' team finalist for both the 2000 & 2001 Roberto Clemente Man of the Year Awards. He also served as the honorary chairman for the Marlins' Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program.

Kim w/Boston: 2-0, 7.45 in 15 G, 2 GS (29.0 IP, 34 H, 24 ER, 7 BB, 18 K)... w/Pawtucket (AAA): 4-2, 3.18 in 8 GS (45.1 IP, 34 H, 16 ER, 16 BB, 37 K).
Song w/Trenton: 7-7, 4.39 in 21 GS (108.2 IP, 106 H, 53 ER, 37 BB, 116 K). (go to list)

So now the Expos have traded Cliff Floyd? What are they thinking?

OK, we're only counting that as one question. But it's a doozy of a question.

Let's recap. First, the Expos go out and make a trade for Bartolo Colon, the former ace of the Cleveland Indians. Hey, the Expos are serious about making a run at the Atlanta Braves and getting into the postseason, we said. They're not pulling up the tent stakes.

Later, they go a step farther, prying outfielder Floyd away from the Florida Marlins. Floyd was one of the most sought-after sluggers on the market. And the Expos got him for some prospects.

Watch out for the Expos, everyone cries.

It was all a bit funky, granted, considering Major League Baseball owns the Expos. There are all sorts of conflict of interest possibilities.

But now ... you wanna talk funky? Eighteen days after getting Floyd, the Expos traded him Tuesday to the Boston Red Sox. For prospects! Which means guys who won't be good for years! If then!

By all rights, the Expos shouldn't be making any deals at this stage, certainly not for prospects. What do the Expos need with prospects?

Oh. We're supposed to be answering burning questions, not asking them.

The facts are these: The Expos were 7-11 with Floyd. They are 53-53 overall and 15 games out of first place in the NL East at the trading deadline. But GM Omar Minaya talks like a man who thinks his team still has a shot at the wild card.

"I felt like, right now, it was a move that could give us more flexibility," Minaya said. "If we do get close to the wild card, it will give us more flexibility."

Trades still can be made after Wednesday's deadline, though players have to be subjected to the waivers process. Maybe Minaya thinks he can take these young pitchers he got for Floyd and get some big-name stud in August who will help the Expos make a run.

Or maybe he's building a team that won't be contracted next season. Maybe he knows something we don't know.

Or, maybe, Minaya has no idea what he's doing and he's just flying by the seat of his pants.

Whatever, it's one funky situation. And we may not be done with it yet. (go to list)

Cliff Floyd, almost a Yankee, is now the enemy
By ANTHONY MCCARRON
New York Daily News

ARLINGTON, Texas - Cliff Floyd and Rondell White have been friends since they grew up together in the Montreal Expos' system. They even went to three World Series games at the Stadium together last year, marveling at the atmosphere.

Now, White said, "He's the enemy. This is crazy. He can do it all, speed, hit, hit with power. Now I'll get to see him more, that's the only good thing about it.

"I can't root for him to get too many hits now."

Floyd, acquired by Montreal from Florida 19 days ago, was traded by the Expos to the Red Sox late Tuesday night for two minor-league pitchers and a player to be named.

"He's a good player," Joe Torre said. "He's been talked about for years. I know we were supposed to be getting him (earlier this year).

"It's no surprise that they would help themselves, just like we helped ourselves (trading for Raul Mondesi and Jeff Weaver)." (go to list)

Cliff notes fever pitch of Boston baseball
By John Tomase
Staff Writer

BOSTON -- Cliff Floyd heard the cheers of 30,000 in Montreal all the time. They just took a week to accumulate.

Last night, Floyd got his first taste of Fenway Park as a member of the home team. And the Fenway fandom packed a season's worth of Expos enthusiasm into his first at-bat, giving him a 40-second ovation as he stepped to the plate.

Floyd struck out looking against Oakland's Mark Mulder, but no matter. Boston's marquee acquisition received the hero's welcome afforded the new star in town.

Floyd finished his Fenway debut 0 for 3 with a walk in Boston's 9-1 loss. He hit one ball hard, lining to left in the fifth. He handled three chances in right field.

Floyd was disappointed in the loss, but happy at his newfound gain.

"It's great to be a part of. I'm looking forward to the challenge," Floyd said. "When I come to the ballpark now, I'm playing for something. Not that I wasn't before, but this is pennant fever."

Pennant fever lasted all of three weeks in Montreal before the Expos shipped Floyd to Boston for three minor leaguers. And just like that, he went from Montreal's yawning fans to Fenway's bug-eyed masses.

It's a whole new world.

"I'm looking forward to this like you wouldn't believe," he said. "I'm talking about baseball and pennant races instead of where I'm going to be traded.

"I'm thankful to be in a pennant race. I'm thankful to be off that turf. I'm thankful to be here."

Floyd believes he arrived in Montreal with the wrong attitude, which is not to say he had a bad attitude. He hit .217 after trying single-handedly to carry the Expos to the World Series. It's a lesson he's taken to Boston.

"When I got to Montreal, I was like, OK, now I've got to be Superman," he said. "It wasn't there and it never came. Now I'm just going to do my thing."

Floyd almost never got here. He heard the rumors that had him headed to New York for much of the first half. His closest friend in baseball, Yankees left fielder Rondell White, kept him abreast of the Bombers' interest.

"Fans were mailing me newspapers every day," he said. "There were big pictures of me on the back of the New York Post. It just never happened."

The Red Sox are happy it didn't. Now Floyd's enduring the predictable trials of getting traded to Boston. Living out of the Sheraton with just two suitcases, he had planned to have his car shipped north. But one look at the city's traffic patterns and one-way streets cured him of that idea.

"Alan Embree picked me up today, and I'll be taking a cab from now on," he said. "I will not be driving. No thank you."

Embree said it's all part of making a new teammate feel welcome, a process he went through six weeks ago after arriving from San Diego.

"You want a guy to feel as comfortable as possible," said Embree. "These guys did it for me. He's obviously an important pickup, and the quicker you get a guy acclimated, the better."

Floyd's culture shock extends beyond the traffic. He estimates five full-time reporters covered the Marlins, and he said he never saw more than 10 media members in Montreal -- TV, print and radio included.

Contrast that with the scene before last night's game, with Floyd surrounded by 30 reporters in the Red Sox dugout.

"I'm going to have to get accustomed to this," he admitted.

If he gets his way, he'll have plenty of time to feel at home. A free agent after the season, Floyd reiterated a desire to stay in Boston.

"I definitely want to give them the first opportunity," he said. "I'd like to sign a long-term contract to stay put and help this team for years to come.

"Now's not the time to talk about it, though. Hopefully everything will take care of itself after we win a World Series."

Should that ever happen, they'll hear the roar back in Canadiens country. (go to list)

Struggling Montreal Expos trade Cliff Floyd to Boston Red Sox
Canadian Press
Wednesday, July 31, 2002

MONTREAL (CP) - Even after trading one of his premier hitters for two minor-leaguers, Montreal Expos general manager Omar Minaya insists he's still a buyer.

Cliff Floyd was traded for the second time in three weeks as the Expos sent the power-hitting outfielder to Boston on Tuesday night for minor-league pitchers Seung-jun Song and Sun-woo Kim. "I still hope we can get closer to the wild card," Minaya said. "And if we do get closer to the wild card I have flexibility to improve other areas of the team."

Floyd, an all-star last season, is eligible to become a free agent at the end of the year. He is being paid $6.5 million this season.

Minaya said dealing Floyd's salary and taking little in return allows him to take on salary in a later deal.

"I have said all along that I still think we need to improve our pitching if we're going to make the playoffs," Minaya said. "This basically feeds me $2 million right now.

"I hope that an opportunity opens and I can possibly use that for that special guy."

Floyd homered Tuesday night for the Expos, who acquired him after the all-star break from Florida.

As part of the deal, which came before Wednesday's trading deadline, Montreal also gets a player to be named later.

"Hopefully, this will be my last stop in terms of trades and all this junk," Floyd said. "I'm a free agent at the end of this season but, hopefully, we won't even go that far. Hopefully, I can sit still and play with a team that's pretty much stacked in every area."

Red Sox interim general manager Mike Port said the team envisions signing Floyd to an extension.

Floyd spent his first four seasons in Montreal. After hitting .287 with 18 homers and 57 RBIs with Florida, he was dealt back to the Expos on July 11 and struggled in his second stint with Montreal.

He hit .208 (11-for-53) with 10 strikeouts in 15 games with the Expos.

The Expos were in the thick of the wild-card hunt and had just picked up ace right-hander Bartolo Colon from Cleveland when they acquired Floyd.

But Montreal has gone into a tailspin and dropped well back of a playoff spot. The Expos were 46-42 when the trade was made, and are 53-53 after Tuesday's 5-4 win over Arizona.

Floyd is hoping the Red Sox don't take a similar dive upon his arrival.

"You don't want to be the guy that comes in and messes up the chemistry, you worry about that stuff," he said. "The same thing happened here, we were winning and I came in and it was like 'Whoa.' I would go home every night and couldn't sleep."

Floyd said he had just settled into an apartment with his girlfriend on Monday, and now he has to move all over again.

"Cliff is a good player and a good teammate," Boston manager Grady Little said. "Everybody likes Cliff Floyd. He's got a lot of ability, and we're glad to have him with us."

Song, a 22-year-old South Korean, was obtained by the Red Sox as a free agent in 1999. The right-hander led Boston's farm system with a 1.90 ERA and 135 strikeouts last season, when he split time between Sarasota of the Florida State League and Augusta of the South Atlantic League.
Song will report to Montreal's double-A affiliate in Harrisburg.

The 24-year-old right-handed Kim, also a South Korean, has spent most of the season in Boston's farm system. In 15 games with the Red Sox this year he's 2-0 with a 7.45 ERA.

Kim will report to the Expos' triple-A affiliate in Ottawa, and Expos manager Frank Robinson said he could help the Expos this year.

Robinson said he expects his players to continue playing as if nothing has changed.

"If the team is going to react negatively to this and not go out and play baseball, they're not the character of people that I thought this team had," he said. "This club has overcome a lot this year and they've bounced back and played hard.

All-star second baseman Jose Vidro insisted that the team will not give up.

"I don't know what to say, it's a shock," said Vidro. "We were finally getting comfortable with the guy here, and he was probably getting comfortable now and he gets traded again. It's tough.

"I think it would have been a lot better with him, it's sad to see him leave like that. He's a great guy and a great ball player, so for sure we're going to miss him. But hey, we've got to keep going."
As for Floyd, he is excited at the thought of a pennant race in a baseball-mad town.

"I'm going to a great situation, Boston is a great team," Floyd said. "It was an unfortunate situation here, I wish we would have done better and the situation would have been different but we didn't. I played a big part of it, I didn't do as well as I thought I should have in the 50 at-bats or so I got here.

But I felt my swing was starting to come around so hopefully I can go help that team. (go to list)

Expos' trades payoff; Colon goes the distance, Floyd homers
Copyright © 2003 AP MegaSports
The Associated Press

MONTREAL (July 13, 2002 11:52 p.m. EDT) - The Montreal Expos gave their few diehard fans - and a lot of newcomers - something to cheer about.

Brad Wilkerson, Vladimir Guerrero and Cliff Floyd each hit solo homers in the fifth inning, and Bartolo Colon pitched his first complete game in the National League to win his Montreal home debut as the Expos beat the Atlanta Braves 6-3 Saturday night before a crowd of 17,335.

Without a promotion to bring in a bigger crowd, the game drew Montreal's fourth-largest crowd of the season as the second-place Expos moved within 10 1/2 games of Atlanta in the NL East.

"That one tonight was for the fans that have been coming out here and supporting us all year long, and the extra fans that came out tonight," Expos manager Frank Robinson said. "It really gave us a real boost, seeing them all in the seats out there, and their cheering for us really made us feel good, picked us up.

"But I still want to express a 'thank you' to the hardy fans that have been out here all year supporting us."

All three homers came off Tom Glavine (11-5), who surrendered three homers in the same inning for the first time in his major league career.

"I'm not happy but I'm not overly concerned about it," Glavine said. "I've given up some home runs lately, but most have been solo home runs. It's indicative of my problems right now. I'm getting the ball up and it's getting hit."

Colon (2-0) allowed eight hits - including Chipper Jones' eighth-inning homer - and three runs to send the Braves to just their fourth loss in 21 games.

"I felt great, especially when I was warming up in the bullpen and they mentioned my name and the whole stadium gave me a nice round of applause - I felt welcome," Colon said.

Colon had four complete games this season for Cleveland.

"He got stronger as the game went on," Expos catcher Michael Barrett said. "He's got a starter's mentality with the instincts of a closer at the same time. When you have that combination, it goes a long way. It's kind of like Pedro Martinez. You get in that ninth inning, he's got the ball in his hand and he's going to finish the game."

Wilkerson led off the fifth with his 10th homer to break a 2-2 tie and, one out later, Guerrero hit Glavine's first pitch for his 23rd homer - his fourth in three games to make it 4-2.

Floyd, who made his Expos debut in Friday's 8-3 loss, drove Glavine's next pitch 418 feet over the center-field wall for his 19th homer of the season, and first in a Montreal uniform since 1996.

The fans summoned Floyd from the dugout for a curtain call after his homer made it 5-2.

"I'm getting a little overwhelmed," Floyd said. "Last night the ovation and tonight, a curtain call. I've never done that in my career. Everybody's getting excited and that's good."

Montreal took a 2-0 lead in the first on Floyd's RBI grounder and Fernando Tatis' sacrifice fly.
(go to list)

Floyd feels buzz rejoining Expos
Baseball notebook
The Associated Press

MONTREAL — Cliff Floyd is excited about returning to the Montreal Expos.

“Walking into the clubhouse, I just felt rejuvenated again,” Floyd said before Friday night's game against Atlanta, his first in a Montreal uniform since 1996.

Floyd batted fourth and started in left field against the Braves. He went 0-for-4 as the Expos lost.
Expos general manager Omar Minaya completed his second big trade in two weeks by acquiring Floyd — who can become a free agent following the season — from the Florida Marlins.

One of two teams targeted for elimination by baseball during the offseason, the surprising Expos are in second place in the NL East and within six games of the wild card berth. (go to list)

Florida's Floyd finds solace in teammate's bat
By Rob Biertempfel
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, May 5, 2002

Florida outfielder Cliff Floyd broke his favorite bat during batting practice Tuesday, so he swiped one of Preston Wilson's before stepping to the plate against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Floyd smacked a pair of home runs, tying Houston's Lance Berkman for the league lead at 10, and led the Marlins to a 7-2 victory.

"I don't know if I took Preston's home runs or not," Floyd said, laughing.

When asked how many homers he'll hit this season, Floyd shrugged.

"I don't know," he said. "I just hope the baseball gods look at it and say, 'Well, he hit 10 in April, so he gets 10 each month.' It's definitely weird to have more home runs than Barry Bonds. Definitely weird."

In the ninth inning, Floyd cracked Wilson's bat hitting an infield grounder.

"I'm going to order his bats with his name on them and take them for myself," Floyd said. "Why not?"

Floyd only swapped bats with Wilson. A few days earlier, he switched positions with Kevin Millar. Floyd went to right field, where his speed will be an asset. Millar, who has been bothered by a sore knee, moved to left.

"He can't run, I can," Floyd said. "He's slow, I'm fast."

It sounded like a perfectly logical explanation. And yet …

The Marlins reportedly want to deal Floyd and his $6.5 million salary for this season. One team with interest is the New York Yankees, who, coincidentally, could use a right fielder.

The Floyd-Millar switch was announced less than 45 minutes before game time. But Marlins manager Jeff Torborg scoffed at the notion the Fish were showcasing Floyd for New York's scouts.
"That's pretty creative," Torborg said. "We make a move at the last minute, and somehow the Yankees are in it."

IN THE DOGHOUSE
Last Sunday was "Dog Day Afternoon" at Pro Player Stadium in Miami. At $5 a pop, more than 300 dogs were admitted to a special seating area in the right-center field bleachers.

"I could hear them," Floyd said. "Sounded like a kennel out there."

Floyd brought his dog Coco — a pint-sized, white American Eskimo — into the Marlins' clubhouse before and after the game. Floyd looked his pet in the eye and said, "I'm not talking to reporters today. They come around my locker, bite them."

No injuries were reported. (go to list)