Rangers trade Ludwick

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rangers made a pitch for the future in Florida.
On Friday, the Rangers sent outfielder Ryan Ludwick to the Cleveland Indians
for outfielder Shane Spencer and pitcher Ricardo Rodriguez on Friday.
Spencer will join the club Saturday.

The official announcement was made following the Rangers' 2-0 loss to Tampa
Bay at Tropicana Field.

"With some of the acquisitions we made in addition to some the pieces we
already had here, we felt that if the opportunity presented itself for us to
acquire young pitching, we would do it," Rangers general manager John Hart
said.

"For us, it was a good opportunity. There were certain players that we
obviously did not want to lose, but in this one, we certainly liked the
ability of the pitcher we are bringing back. It's a bonus that we are able
to bring back a proven corner outfielder that will give us some stability as
we go forward."

Rodriguez, 25, is 3-9 with a 5.73 ERA in 15 career starts. He has allowed 52
earned runs and struck out 41 in 81 2/3 innings. He was originally optioned
to Triple-A Buffalo on July 2, but the option was rescinded one week later
when he was placed on the disabled list with a strained right groin.

Hart said he has problems with his hip. The Rangers are not sure whether he
will return in two weeks or two months, but it is an injury that can be
fixed.

"He's a young upside pitcher that we have in the mix," Hart said. "We don't
have him ahead or behind anybody else, but he's another piece. He's another
building block."

Rodriguez went 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his first four starts this season.
Overall, he has pitched less than 170 innings above the Double-A level and
has a career minor league record of 38-20 with a 3.08 ERA in 88 starts over
94 games.

Spencer, 31, is hitting .271 with eight home runs and 26 RBIs in his first
64 games this season. He has a career Major League average of .264 in parts
of six seasons spent mostly with the New York Yankees.

"He's another piece," Hart said. "He hits left-handed pitching very well. He
gives us a presence in the clubhouse. He's a guy who has been in big games.
It does not hurt to add a player like that to this mix."

Ludwick had started seven of the previous nine games before Friday night. He
was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma on July 2 and is 4-for-26 in eight
starts, four in left field and four in right field.

"I'm excited and a little panic-stricken at the moment," he said. "There's a
lot of going through my head right now. I have a lot of stuff to do. I feel
like it's going to be a good opportunity."

Ludwick hit .303 with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs in 81 games for the RedHawks
before being called up. He was acquired as part of a six-player deal with
Oakland before the 2002 season. He had surgery on a bone fracture in his hip
last July.

"I'm just going to go over there and play hard and let the cards fall where
they fall," Ludwick said. "I feel like they gave me a great opportunity.
Buck is a first-class guy and a great manager. I wish I would have had the
opportunity to play for him a little bit longer, but that's part of the
game. I have to move on."