Saturday, December 15, 2001
[ MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ]
Tyler Yates was asleep when the Oakland A's called yesterday morning. Hawaii’s Yates shipped
from A’s to MetsBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comWhen his father, Gary, came back from a morning walk on the beach, he saw the message light flashing on the answering machine, listened, then woke up his son.
Yates had been traded to the New York Mets along with left-handed reliever Mark Guthrie for outfielder David Justice and cash.
The trade caught the Yates household by surprise. It was just three weeks ago that the A's had added Yates to their 40-man roster, an indication they felt strongly about his abilities and wanted to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
"I thought there was no way Tyler would be traded. We couldn't believe it," said his mother, Janna.
Yates returned Oakland's call, which confirmed the trade for the 24-year-old right-hander.
"I was kind of disappointed at first because I like the A's organization a lot," said Yates. "My agent told me it would be a better opportunity for me with the Mets. The more I thought about it, it could be a good chance to get to the big leagues.
"My agent was surprised it went down because Oakland had told him a lot of good things about me."
Yates, who pitched for Kauai High School and Hawaii-Hilo, was drafted by Oakland in the 23rd round in 1998 following his junior year with the Vulcans. He steadily moved up the A's farm system, advancing to Triple-A at the end of the 2001 season.
He began the year at AA Midland of the Texas League, where he was 4-6 with a 4.31 ERA and 17 saves in 56 games. In four games for Sacramento in the Pacific Coast League he was 1-0 with a save.
"A lot of people see me as a prospect and, of course my dream is to be in the big leagues, but why is everyone so high on me?" Yates said. "I have a live fastball and a good slider, but I guess I've opened some eyes along the way."
He did spend a month pitching in the Dominican League this fall, but began to experience some soreness in his right arm and returned to Kauai.
"I wasn't bouncing back as fast as I usually do," said Yates. "I told them I was coming home to rest and get ready for spring training. That's my biggest priority."
Yates will report to the Mets' big league camp in February.