http://tinyurl.com/p3a3v PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks today acquired righthanded pitcher Jeff Bajenaru from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for infielder Alex Cintron, as announced today by Diamondbacks' Senior Vice President and General Manager Josh Byrnes. Bajenaru will wear #59 and join Arizona's 40-man roster.
Bajenaru, who will turn 28 on March 21, spent the majority of last year with Chicago's AAA affiliate in Charlotte, posting a 4-6 record and 19 saves with a sparkling 1.41 ERA in 61 games. He fanned 83 in 70.1 innings, while allowing only 11 earned runs and 29 walks. He closed the year with 4 appearances for the White Sox, allowing 3 earned runs in 4.1 innings.
The trade is a swap of 36th round draft choices, with Bajenaru joining the White Sox organization as their 36th selection in the 1999 First Year Player Draft, while Cintron was Arizona's 36th choice in the 1997 draft, a year before the Major League franchise played its first game. Bajenaru recorded 72 saves over his minor league career in the Chicago organization, highlighted by the 19 last season with Charlotte. A Rancho Cucamonga, CA, resident, he played collegiately at the University of Oklahoma, both pitching and playing in the outfield, earning All-America honors as a senior in 2000. He set the school record for saves in a season (20) and career saves (28). Bajenaru graduated from Riverside (CA) Community College, where he was drafted in the 13th round by Oakland in 1998, but chose not to sign. He was selected by the White Sox in the '99 draft after his junior season, but remained at Oklahoma for his senior campaign.
Bajenaru, who will turn 28 on March 21, spent the majority of last year with Chicago's AAA affiliate in Charlotte, posting a 4-6 record and 19 saves with a sparkling 1.41 ERA in 61 games. He fanned 83 in 70.1 innings, while allowing only 11 earned runs and 29 walks. He closed the year with 4 appearances for the White Sox, allowing 3 earned runs in 4.1 innings.
The trade is a swap of 36th round draft choices, with Bajenaru joining the White Sox organization as their 36th selection in the 1999 First Year Player Draft, while Cintron was Arizona's 36th choice in the 1997 draft, a year before the Major League franchise played its first game. Bajenaru recorded 72 saves over his minor league career in the Chicago organization, highlighted by the 19 last season with Charlotte. A Rancho Cucamonga, CA, resident, he played collegiately at the University of Oklahoma, both pitching and playing in the outfield, earning All-America honors as a senior in 2000. He set the school record for saves in a season (20) and career saves (28). Bajenaru graduated from Riverside (CA) Community College, where he was drafted in the 13th round by Oakland in 1998, but chose not to sign. He was selected by the White Sox in the '99 draft after his junior season, but remained at Oklahoma for his senior campaign.
