Schilling Traded to Arizona

<br>PHOENIX (AP) â€” Curt Schilling was traded Wednesday from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Arizona Diamondbacks, The Associated Press has learned. <br><br>The trade was confirmed by a source familiar

Wednesday, July 26th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

PHOENIX (AP) â€” Curt Schilling was traded Wednesday from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Arizona Diamondbacks, The Associated Press has learned.

The trade was confirmed by a source familiar with the negotiations who spoke on the condition he not be identified. It was scheduled to be announced in Philadelphia at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

The Phillies called a news conference at Veterans Stadium but did not disclose the subject.

The Diamondbacks are sending first baseman-outfielder Travis Lee and pitchers Omar Daal, Vicente Padilla and Nelson Figueroa to Philadelphia for Schilling, a team source close to the deal said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

As part trade, Schilling waived his right to demand a trade following the season, a power given to veterans traded during multiyear.

Schilling recently told the Phillies there were about a half-dozen teams he would allow himself to be dealt to. He is making $5.65 million this season and is signed for next season at $6.5 million. After the 2001 season, he becomes eligible for free agency.

Schilling, who grew up in the Phoenix area, joins Randy Johnson in Arizona's rotation, giving the Diamondbacks one of the most powerful 1-2 pitching combinations in baseball. Arizona, the defending NL West champion, began Wednesday in first place, one game ahead of San Francisco.

Schilling had veto power over any trade. Monday is the deadline for making deals without waivers.

The New York Yankees also had been talking to Philadelphia about Schilling, another baseball executive said, also on the condition of anonymity, but the extent of their interest was unclear. The New York Mets also had been interested.

The Cleveland Indians made a run at Schilling last week. St. Louis and Seattle also were considered contenders to land the 33-year-old pitcher. The Cardinals offered outfielder J.D. Drew and pitcher Matt Morris, one source said.

Schilling (6-6) started clearing out his locker Tuesday. The starter in last year's All-Star game, he had shoulder surgery in the offseason and struggled at first after rejoining the Phillies. However, he has pitched complete games in three of his last four starts. He is 5-2 with a 2.00 ERA in his last eight starts, six of them Phillies victories. He has lasted at least seven innings in his last eight starts.

Arizona sorely needed another starter because of the injury to Todd Stottlemyre and the struggles of Daal. Stottlemyre has been sidelined for a month with a slight tear in his elbow and is not expected to return until September, at the earliest.

Schilling has a 105-89 career record, and won at least 15 games in each of the last three seasons.

Schilling had been with the Phillies since 1992, when he was acquired from Houston for right-hander Jason Grimsley.

The left-handed hitting Lee was signed to a then-record $10 million signing bonus by Arizona before its 1998 expansion season. He was considered the cornerstone of the young franchise, but he has struggled at the plate the last two seasons.

Lee was optioned to Triple-A Tucson on July 16 to work on his hitting. He was 5-for-5 in a recent contest.

Daal, 16-9 last season with a 3.65 ERA, is 2-10 with a 7.22 ERA this year and has lost his spot in the starting rotation.

Padilla, 22, has been strong out of the bullpen this season and the Diamondbacks had projected him as a possible starter in the future. He is 2-1 with a 2.31 ERA and could serve as closer for Philadelphia.

Figueroa, 26, considered Arizona's best pitcher at Tucson, made a couple of appearances for Arizona this season. He was 0-2 with a 7.47 ERA for the Diamondbacks.