Cubs acquire Phil Nevin, ship Hairston to Rangers

Chicago was looking for a slugger to replace injured Derek Lee.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Struggling designated hitter Phil Nevin was traded Wednesday by the Texas Rangers to the Chicago Cubs, who are desperately seeking a slugger to help replace injured Derrek Lee.
The Rangers got utility player Jerry Hairston Jr. from the Cubs and will pay most of the remaining difference between Nevin's $10 million salary and the $2.3 million Hairston is making this season.
"We're just looking for somebody who has the ability to hit the ball out of the ball park," Chicago general manager Jim Hendry said. "We explored every possibility the last month to add a bat."
Nevin was hitting .216 with nine homers and 31 RBIs in 46 games for Texas. He split time in the lineup with Jason Botts since the rookie was called up May 23. Nevin had only two hits his last 32 at-bats, both of them homers.
"I'm more of a National League player. The designated hitter deal is not something I like doing every day," Nevin said. "My first reaction was the tradition of Wrigley Field -- it's probably one of my favorite places to visit."
Past numbers
Before going to Texas last July 30 in a trade for pitcher Chan Ho Park, Nevin spent 61/2 seasons with San Diego. He hit .284 with 156 homers in 824 National League games, and played 218 games at first base from 2004 until he was traded.
Lee, the NL batting champion last year and a two-time Gold Glove first baseman, is sidelined with a broken right wrist. He got hurt in a collision at first base with Rafael Furcal of the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 19.
"It's a much-needed deal for us," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "We needed some right-handed sock."
Hairston, who went to Chicago from Baltimore in the Sammy Sosa trade before the 2005 season, was hitting .207 with no homers and four RBIs in 38 games for the Cubs. The 30-year-old Hairston started 21 games this season, 18 at second base, two in right field and one in left.
Escobar agrees to extension
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Starting pitcher Kelvim Escobar agreed to a three-year extension with the Los Angeles Angels, putting him under contract through the 2009 season.
Escobar, a 30-year-old right-hander, is 5-5 with a 3.96 ERA in 10 starts this season.
Escobar signed a three-year, $18.75 million contract with the Angels on Nov. 24, 2003, after pitching five full seasons and parts of two others with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was 11-12 with a 3.93 ERA in 33 starts in 2004, and 3-2 with a 3.02 ERA in seven starts and nine relief appearances last season.
He was sidelined for more than two months last year after undergoing surgery June 29 to shave down a bone spur and remove a bone chip from his right elbow. He spent time on the disabled list before undergoing surgery, and was moved to the bullpen upon his return in September.
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