01/15/2003 10:31 am ET
White Sox acquire Bartolo Colon
Three-team deal also involves Yankees

Bartolo Colon was the subject of much trade speculation this
offseason, finally landing in Chicago. (AP)



CHICAGO -- The White Sox have been looking to solidify their
rotation behind ace left-hander Mark Buehrle and did so Wednesday by
acquiring Montreal ace Bartolo Colon in a three-way deal involving
the Yankees.
The White Sox acquired Colon and minor-league infielder Jorge Nunez
from the Expos in exchange for pitcher Rocky Biddle, pitcher Orlando
Hernandez, outfielder Jeff Liefer and cash considerations.



Hernandez was obtained from the Yankees, along with cash
considerations, for pitcher Antonio Osuna and minor-league pitcher
Delvis Lantigua.

The move is a huge boost to the White Sox in their effort to
overtake the Minnesota Twins, defending champions of the AL Central.
With a powerful lineup that features sluggers Magglio Ordonez, Paul
Konerko, Frank Thomas, Carlos Lee, Jose Valentin and youngsters Joe
Crede and D'Angelo Jimenez, the Sox were in need of an experienced
arm in the rotation behind Buehrle. Colon fits the bill and then
some.

Colon, 29, went a combined 20-8 with a 2.93 ERA in 33 starts for
Cleveland and Montreal in 2002. He will earn $8.25 million this
season, the final year of a five-year, $17.25 million contract that
he signed in 1999. In six seasons, Colon is 85-49 with a 3.85 ERA in
177 big-league starts.

"We have been discussing with the Expos various ways we could
acquire Bartolo for quite some time," said White Sox general manager
Ken Williams.

"There were very few pitchers of his caliber available this
offseason, and we really like the potential of a Bartolo Colon-Mark
Buehrle combination at the top of our rotation, followed by Jon
Garland and Danny Wright. Bartolo's statistics -- 20 victories,
eight complete games, almost 150 strikeouts -- speak to the type of
impact pitcher he can be for a team."