By JON KRAWCZYNSKI and CHRIS JENKINS
AP Sports Writers
MINNEAPOLIS(AP) -- The Milwaukee Brewers finally gave J.J. Hardy
the change of scenery he had been expecting and reunited the
unhappy shortstop with an old friend in the process.
The Brewers traded Hardy to the Minnesota Twins on Friday for
speedy outfielder Carlos Gomez.
Hardy winds up with the Twins' All-Star catcher, Joe Mauer, a
teammate on the U.S. national teams in 2000 and 2003. The two
still chat regularly when they see each other, and Hardy said
the move could help him move on from a forgettable season.
The 27-year-old Hardy batted a career-low .229 with 11 home runs
and 47 RBIs in 115 games for the Brewers in 2009. He was demoted
to Triple-A in August.
"I definitely knew I was going to get traded once I got sent
down," Hardy said. "Once I got the call this morning, I was
pretty excited about it."
The Twins think a fresh start can help Hardy regain the form
that made him one of the league's most promising young
shortstops. A 2007 All-Star, he is just the third shortstop in
Brewers' history to hit more than 20 home runs in a season
twice, along with Robin Yount and Jose Hernandez.
"It's one of those seasons for me that I completely don't want
to think about it anymore. I was happy when it ended," Hardy
said. "It was just kind of a nightmare year for me."
He has a career batting average of .262 with 75 home runs and
265 RBI in 571 games.
"He's got a strong arm. He's got good range and he's got power,"
Twins general manager Bill Smith said. "He had a bad year this
year. We've talked to a lot of people and we have a lot of
opinions in our organization. We're all on board that this was a
good acquisition for us."
Hardy will replace free agent-to-be Orlando Cabrera, a midseason
acquisition who helped the Twins edge Detroit for the AL Central
title. But Cabrera just turned 35 and is not a long-term
solution.
Hardy spent 20 days in the minors, costing him a year of service
time and therefore delaying his eligibility for free agency
until after the 2011-12 season.
"To give up Carlos Gomez, and four years of control with the
player, it's important to get somebody that we're going to have
for more than a year," Smith said.
Gomez, who turns 24 in December, batted .229 with three home
runs and 28 RBIs in 137 games with the Twins last season. But he
was stuck in a role as a defensive replacement in a crowded
Twins outfield that included Michael Cuddyer, Denard Span,
Delmon Young and Jason Kubel.
Gomez was supposed to be the crown jewel of a trade with the
Mets two years ago that sent ace Johan Santana to New York. But
he never developed the consistency the Twins were looking for.
"Last year, I can't do nothing about it, because I didn't play
every day," Gomez said. "You don't play every day, it's tough."
The move gives Twins manager Ron Gardenhire a more defined
outfield rotation and will allow Gomez to play every day in
Milwaukee, replacing center fielder Mike Cameron, who will
become a free agent after two productive seasons.
"This was a good fit," Smith said. "We had one too many
outfielders and they had one too many shortstops, so it worked
out for both teams."
Brewers GM Doug Melvin said Gomez's speed would add a new
dimension to the Brewers' offense, and his defensive skills
would provide a boost to a pitching staff that struggled last
season.
"Carlos brings to our club great speed, athleticism and energy
at a position that we needed to fill," Melvin said.
The Brewers' biggest need was pitching going into the offseason,
and Hardy was one of the most logical pieces Melvin could have
used to try to pry a pitcher away from another team.
"In the end, there wasn't anybody that matched the ability of
Carlos Gomez," Melvin said.
The development of highly regarded shortstop prospect Alcides
Escobar made Hardy expendable, though Melvin said the decision
to cut ties with the popular Hardy wasn't easy.
"If he'd had a big year, we might have been looking at a trade
of Escobar," Melvin said.
Despite Gomez's speed, Melvin said Rickie Weeks would likely be
the team's leadoff hitter next season.
The Brewers also declined a $3.7 million option on right-hander
David Weathers on Friday, buying him out for $400,000. They
likely will have to turn to the free agent market to help their
struggling staff.
Melvin said he considers right-hander John Lackey "head and
shoulders" above other available free agent pitchers, but
wouldn't say whether the Brewers would be serious bidders for
the Los Angeles Angels ace.
Melvin said the Brewers might have to gamble on a pitcher with a
history of injury problems, such as left-handed free agent Mark
Mulder.
"We'll still focus on pitching, and see if we can improve,"
Melvin said.
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Jenkins contributed from Milwaukee and AP Sports Writer Dave
Campbell in Minneapolis contributed to this report.
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