Tribe Sends Ogea To Phillies

Cleveland Indians traded Chad Ogea to the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday for reliever Jerry Spradlin.

Ogea, one of six starters the Indians had under contract, had become expendable with the emergence of young right-handers Jaret Wright and Bartolo Colon.

Ogea, 28, won two World Series starts for Cleveland in 1997 but was beaten by the New York Yankees in this year's critical Game 5 of the AL championship series. The right-hander battled injuries all year and went 5-4 with a 5.61 ERA in nine starts and 10 relief appearances.

Spradlin was 4-4 with a 3.53 ERA in 69 relief appearances for the Phillies, recording a career-high 76 strikeouts in 81 2-3 innings.

"In Jerry Spradlin we have acquired a strong physical guy with a power arm who could help us in the back end of our bullpen," Indians general manager John Hart said. "This deal is consistent with our successful philosophy of building a strong and reliable bullpen."

The Indians have been thought to be looking for an ace starter or a second baseman this offseason and have made an initial offer to Baltimore's Roberto Alomar.

This could be the first trade in a potentially busy off-season for Hart.

Chad Ogea likely will be in the Phillies' rotation. (AP)

Meawhile, a source speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the Indians and Colon are close to agreement on a four-year deal worth about $16 million and could complete the contract next week. The deal would have a team option for 2003.

Colon, 23, went 14-9 with a 3.71 ERA in his first full season in the major leagues and was the Indians' most consistent starter from April until the All-Star break.

He also pitched a four-hitter against the Yankees in the AL championship series and gave up just one run in Cleveland's division series-clinching win over the Boston Red Sox.

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