Brewers acquire Durham from Giants

Jul 21, 2008 - 1:24 AM SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- As the Milwaukee Brewers leave San Francisco, veteran second baseman Ray Durham will be going with them.

The Brewers acquired Durham from the Giants on Sunday for Class A outfielder Darren Ford and lefthander Steve Hammond, who is at Class AAA Nashville.

"He brings a guy that is a really, really good offensive player, switch-hitter, can hit for power. He's a solid offensive player," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "He's a veteran player that is really good with younger players and fits right in to what our veterans bring every day into our clubhouse. He's going to fit in nicely."

The Brewers completed a three-game sweep of the Giants, posting a 7-4 victory on Sunday.

It is the second deal for the Brewers this month. They acquired ace lefthander CC Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians.

"Milwaukee was aggressive in their pursuit of Ray," Giants general manager Brian Sabean said. "It just so happened we had them in town and (Brewers GM) Doug Melvin in town and we go back a long way. It didn't take long to strike accord.

"We stayed true to our word. No matter where we were in the standings and and what we thought our chances were. We needed at some point to turn our fortunes to our young players and our older players, if they were good enough in the market to be acquired by somebody else, we were willing to do that. Ray is the first transaction."

Milwaukee (55-43), which has not made the playoffs since 1982, is in third place in the National League Central Division and is three games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs.

In the final season of a two-year, $14.5 million contract, Durham could platoon with struggling Rickie Weeks in Milwaukee. Weeks entered Sunday's play batting just .218 with a .322 on-base percentage.

"I'm thrusted into a playoff race and that is which every player wants to be involved in," Durham said. "At the same time, it's also sad because I leave behind a bunch of guys that I have built strong relationships with and some of those guys are my best friends. It's part of the business and I'm used to it. As a player, you couldn't ask to be part of a better organization (than the Giants)."

The 36-year-old Durham has enjoyed a solid season, batting .293 with three homers and 32 RBI in 87 games. He is a .277 career hitter with 189 homers, 862 RBI and 271 stolen bases.

"That (Milwaukee) is a very good ballclub over there and Ray will help them too," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "It gives them another professional bat."

The 26-year-old Hammond has gone 7-8 with a 4.09 ERA with 38 walks and 98 strikeouts in 19 starts between Class AA Huntsville and Nashville this season.

Ford, 22, earned all-star accolades for Class A Brevard County this season. He batted .230 with 57 runs, 13 doubles, three triples, two home runs and 27 RBI. Ford also stole 48 bases, which ranked second in all of minor league baseball entering Sunday's games.