Arkansas Travelers players began passing their cell phones around at 6 p.m. Tuesday inside the clubhouse at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.
About an hour before the Travs were set to play the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the frenzy to make trades before Friday's Major League Baseball nonwaiver trade deadline made its way to North Little Rock. It was then that Travs players started seeing online reports of the Los Angeles Angels acquiring Cleveland Indians outfielder David Murphy in exchange for Travs shortstop Eric Stamets.
"I just got traded?" said Stamets, who a few moments later said he hadn't yet been informed of anything officially.
Stamets, ranked by Baseball America as the Angels' 23rd best prospect, had to wait more than an hour to figure out for sure. He was scratched from the lineup at 6:35, then received a call from the Angels just before the national anthem was played that he was headed to the Indians.
"It was a complete surprise," said Stamets while packing his locker and hugging teammates after the Naturals' 10-4 victory. "I didn't see it coming, but it's just a part of baseball."
Stamets, who hit .248 in 62 games for the Travs, said he'll report to Class AA Akron, which is about two hours northeast of his Dublin, Ohio, hometown. The Indians' Class AAA team is in Columbus, Ohio.
"It couldn't have been a better spot," he said. "Double-A and up is all in Ohio. So, hopefully from here on out I'm in Ohio."
Arkansas Manager Bill Richardson saw it as a positive, too, noting that the Indians gave up a player on their Major League roster to get Stamets.
"That's the biggest honor," Richardson said. "His glove is Major League ready right now. That is the only bittersweet thing of the whole deal. I'd pay to watch him play, and I got to watch him every night."
Richardson said shortstop Erick Salcedo will be promoted from Class A Inland Empire to take Stamets' place.
The Kansas City Royals acquired Oakland Athletics utility player Ben Zobrist in exchange for Naturals' starter Sean Manaea, who is ranked third among Royals' prospects by Baseball America, and pitcher Aaron Brooks, who was at Class AAA Omaha.
Naturals Manager Vance Wilson said he informed Manaea about 1:30 p.m., before the team drove from their hotel to Dickey-Stephens Park. It came three days after Wilson lost Cody Reed, who was a part of the package that allowed the Royals to acquire Johnny Cueto of the Cincinnati Reds.
Wilson said Monday he was disappointed to lose Reed, but happy for his future and for the Royals' ability to get one of baseball's top starters.
"Exact same reaction," Wilson said. "Man, the kid has a bright future."
In other trade news, the Colorado Rockies and Toronto Blue Jays have swapped star shortstops.
The teams confirmed the blockbuster trade Tuesday that sends Jose Reyes and right-handed pitchers Miguel Castro, Jeff Hoffman and Jesus Tinoco to the Rockies for Tulowitzki and right-handed reliever LaTroy Hawkins.
Both shortstops have similar career batting averages but also a history of injuries.
Tulowitzki, 30, is a five-time All-Star and a career .299 hitter with 188 home runs. He's hitting .300 this season. Reyes, 32, is a four-time All-Star and a lifetime .291 hitter. He is hitting .285 this season.
Reyes is signed through 2017. Tulowitzki's contract runs through 2020.
The Philadelphia Phillies traded All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon to the Washington Nationals.
The Nationals announced the deal Tuesday in Miami, where they opened a series against the Marlins. Papelbon, 34, is Philadelphia's career saves leader with 123 and is 17 for 17 in save chances this season. Papelbon also is Boston's saves leader with 219.
The Phillies will receive Class AA right-hander Nick Pivetta for Papelbon.
Papelbon's $13 million option for 2016 becomes a guaranteed $11 million salary, according to terms of the deal.
Papelbon, a right-hander, had said he wouldn't accept a trade unless he would remain a closer, which means the Nationals will likely move Drew Storen into a setup role. Storen is 29 for 31 in save opportunities for the NL East-leading Nationals this season.
The Phillies are a major league-worst 37-63. They signed Papelbon to a $50 million, four-year deal in November 2011.
Sports on 07/29/2015