Tigers get Huff from Orioles for minor leaguer
By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer
BALTIMORE � The Detroit Tigers bolstered their offense for a pennant drive by obtaining first baseman Aubrey Huff from the Baltimore Orioles for a minor leaguer.
�I�ve been in last place basically my whole career, so this is an exciting time for me,� Huff said. �I�m looking forward to it.�
The Tigers began Monday leading the Chicago White Sox by 2� games in the AL Central. The last-place Orioles obtained pitcher Brett Jacobson from Detroit and assigned the right-hander to Class A Frederick.
Huff is batting .253 with 13 homers and 72 RBIs. The 32-year-old Huff recently hit his 200th career homer and should fit in nicely in a Detroit lineup that ranks 11th in the AL in runs and seventh in home runs.
Still, with the non-waiver trading deadline passed and little talk of a deal, Huff expected to finish the season in Baltimore.
When he was summoned to manager Dave Trembley�s office Monday afternoon, Huff figured it was for a pep talk. Then Huff saw Orioles president Andy MacPhail sitting with the skipper and suspected something was up.
�I didn�t really expect anything,� Huff said. �I cleared waivers and there wasn�t a lot of interest I�d heard of. So this one kind of hit me out of left field.�
Huff said he was sad to leave an Orioles team finally reaping the benefits of rebuilding through youth.
�This is probably the best young talent I�ve been around and I�ve been around some young talent. ... You got an All-Star in Adam Jones, and a superstar in Nick Markakis that nobody knows about,� he said. �(Brian) Matusz, (Chris) Tillman, all these young guys coming up. It�s a very exciting time here and Baltimore should have a lot to look forward to.�
Huff spoke briefly with Detroit manager Jim Leyland by telephone Monday and said he expects to join the Tigers on Tuesday, when they open a three-game home series against Seattle.
Jacobson was 1-3 with six saves and a 3.74 ERA in 35 games with Class A Lakeland this season.
The Orioles didn�t immediately replace Huff on their 25-man roster and were prepared to play a man short against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday.