When Cliff Floyd joins the Boston Red Sox on Thursday in Texas,the slugging outfielder will be reunited with former teammate PedroMartinez and Red Sox owner John Henry.
"Hopefully, this will be my last stop in terms of trades and allthis junk," Floyd said after Montreal dealt him to Boston for twominor-league pitchers and a player to be named. "Hopefully, I can sitstill and play with a team that's pretty much stacked in every area."
It was Floyd's second move in three weeks. Montreal acquired himafter the All-Star break from the Florida Marlins.
Rather than fly 2,500 miles from Montreal, play Wednesday night inAnaheim and then travel halfway across the country to Texas, Floydwill join the Red Sox for the start of their series against theRangers. Boston closed to four games behind the New York Yankees inthe American League East and tied Anaheim in the AL wild-card racewith a victory Wednesday night.
"We got one of the best players in the league, skillwise," Red Soxcenter fielder Johnny Damon said. "He can play defense, he can run,he can hit for power and for average."
Floyd, an All-Star last season, is hitting .275 with 21 homers and61 RBI.
The 29-year-old Floyd will be reunited with Henry, who bought theMarlins when Floyd was on the team.
"Cliff called and said he had a smile from ear to ear," Henrysaid. "He fits very nicely into our lineup."
In other deals before Wednesday's non-waiver trading deadline:
*The New York Mets made two trades, both for pitchers. They sentoutfielder Jay Payton, pitcher Mark Corey and minor-league outfielderRobert Stratton to the Colorado Rockies for John Thomson (7-8, 4.88ERA) and outfielder Mark Little.
The Mets also traded left-hander Bobby Jones and minor-leaguersJosh Reynolds and Jay Bay to the San Diego Padres for the right-handed Steve Reed (2-4, 1.98 ERA) and Jason Middlebrook (1-3, 5.09ERA).
*The Anaheim Angels, solidly in the AL West and wild-card races,got outfielder Alex Ochoa and catcher Sal Fasano from Milwaukee forcatcher Jorge Fabregas and two players to be named.
*The Rockies also traded Todd Hollandsworth and pitcher DennysReyes to Texas for outfielder Gabe Kapler and minor-league infielder-outfielder Jason Romano.
MARTINEZ WANTS MORE: Edgar Martinez plans to be the SeattleMariners' DH for at least one more year.
His hamstring is healthy again, and the 39-year-old veteranfigures if he can still contribute he's going to keep playing. TheMariners have a $12 million club option for 2003.
"I know I can still play and produce and help the team," Martinezsaid. "The day I know I can't help, it will be a lot easier for me toretire."
Martinez had surgery April 13 to remove a ruptured tendon behindhis left knee and spent 11 weeks on the disabled list. He returned tothe lineup June 27 and in his first three games back went 4-for-13with two homers and seven RBI.
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