Mets Trade Fabregas To Marlins

The New York Mets traded a backup catcher Friday, but it was not Todd Hundley.

Jorge Fabregas joined his fifth major-league team in less than two years when the Mets shipped him along with cash considerations to the Florida Marlins for right-handed reliever Oscar Henriquez.

The 28-year-old Fabregas hit .199 with one homer and 15 RBI in 15 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks last season, missing the first six weeks of the season with an ankle injury. He was dealt to the Mets on the July 31 trading deadline and hit .188 with one homer and five RBIs in 20 games for New York.

Fabregas began his major-league career with the California Angels in 1994 and was traded to the Chicago White Sox during the 1997 season. He was then selected by Arizona last November in the expansion draft.

Scheduled to make $1.85 million next season, Fabregas is a career .255 hitter with 12 homers and 135 RBI in 397 games.

The Mets are also seeking to trade Hundley, who became expendable when the Mets re-signed Mike Piazza to a seven-year, $91 million deal.

Fabregas will likely get the chance to play every day in Florida.

"He's a proven major-league player who is a solid big league hitter and someone who will do the bulk of our catching this season," said Marlins general manager Dave Dombrowski.

The 24-year-old Henriquez was one of the valued prospects acquired by Florida last November in the deal that sent Moises Alou to the Houston Astros. He split the 1998 season between Charlotte of the International League (AAA) and Florida and was 0-0 with an 8.55 ERA in 15 relief outings for the Marlins.

"Oscar is a hard-throwing young right-hander who we feel has the potential to be a force coming out of the bullpen," said Mets general manager Steve Phillips.

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