In search of bullpen help with the loss of Chris Hammond and Mike Remlinger, Atlanta traded Wes Helms and John Foster to the Milwaukee Brewers for left-handed reliever Ray King.
Helms, 26, the Braves' minor league player of the year in 2000, batted .243 with six home runs and 22 RBIs in 85 games for the Braves last season. He has 17 homers and 60 RBIs in 198 career major league games with Atlanta, where new Brewer's manager Ned Yost was the third-base coach.
"We do feel more comfortable with our bullpen now," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said. "We lost significant talent, and it was necessary to add a pitcher of this caliber."
"I know he was excited about Wes Helms," said Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, who held out for another player in the deal. "I told Ned, 'I just feel I need to get a little bit more. I just tried to get that extra nugget."'
Foster, 24, made his major league debut last season. He appeared in five games in relief for Atlanta, going 1-0 with a 10.80 ERA. Most of his season was spent at Triple-A Richmond, where he was 8-4 with a 4.21 ERA in 55 games, all in relief.
"Ray's not old, but two younger players have a chance to come in and be a part of the Brewers for years to come," Melvin said.
King, 28, was 3-2 with a 3.05 ERA in 76 relief appearances for Milwaukee. He struck out 50 batters in 65 innings. He will help restore a bullpen that has lost lefties Mike Remlinger and Chris Hammond to free agency this offseason, in addition to starter Tom Glavine.
Rule 5 Draft
Atlanta picked up right-hander Christopher Spurling from the Los Angeles organization. Spurling must remain on the major league roster through the 2003 season or be offered back to the Dodgers.
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Adapted from article on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's web site.