BASEBALL TRADE Oakland sends Cory Lidle to Blue Jays for two minor stars

The Athletics were looking to save some money getting rid of Lidle's $4.8 million contract.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- The Oakland Athletics traded right-handed pitcher Cory Lidle to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night for two minor leaguers.
Lidle was the No. 4 starter in Oakland's talented rotation the past two seasons behind the young, high-profile trio of Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and AL Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito.
Lidle was a career reliever before the A's gave him a regular spot in the rotation, but he won 21 games over his two years in Oakland.
Lidle went 8-10 last season with a 3.89 ERA, recovering from a terrible start before having a spectacular August, when he went 5-0. He helped the A's win the American League West before losing to Minnesota in the AL division series in five games.
The deal saves money for the A's. Lidle will make $4.8 million next season.
Two minor leaguers
The two prospects Oakland acquired in the trade are infielder Mike Rouse and right-handed pitcher Chris Mowday.
Blue Jays' general manager J.P. Ricciardi was Oakland's director of player personnel before taking over in Toronto last winter.
In Ricciardi's first deal with Oakland, he acquired AL Rookie of the Year Eric Hinske in a deal for closer Billy Koch last winter. Koch went 11-4 with 44 saves for the A's this season.
The A's are high on pitcher Mario Ramos, who played at Triple-A Sacramento last season, and believe he could make the rotation next season.
Lidle was originally acquired by the A's on Jan. 8, 2001 as part of a three-team, nine-player trade with Tampa Bay and Kansas City that also brought Johnny Damon to Oakland.
Lidle went 13-6 in 2001, with his victory total a career high.