Orioles Flip Veteran Gregg Zaun To Rays

By Matt Eddy
August 7, 2009
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The Deal
With rookie Matt Wieters assuming more and more of the catching responsibilities in Baltimore, the Orioles made right by veteran Gregg Zaun and shipped him to the playoff-contending Rays. Tampa Bay sent back Triple-A first baseman Rhyne Hughes.
 
Orioles Acquire
Rhyne Hughes, 1b
Age: 25. Position: 1B (97 G).
Born: Sept. 9, 1983 in Picayune, Miss.
Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 175. Bats: L. Throws: L.
School: Pearl River (Miss.) CC.
Career Transactions: Selected by Devil Rays in eighth round of 2004 draft; signed Aug. 19, 2004.

Club (League) Class AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB OBP SLG
Montgomery (SL) AA .252 58 226 31 57 11 0 15 46 25 80 4 .340 .500
Durham (IL) AAA .313 56 214 31 67 22 2 7 26 12 69 0 .361 .533
Season Totals .282 114 440 62 124 33 2 22 72 37 149 3 .350 .516

Hughes has steadily worked his way to Triple-A, making it there in early June, in his fifth pro season. At the time of his promotion, he was leading the Southern League in both home runs and RBIs. Hughes established a new career high for homers with 22 this season, helping to address one of his biggest remaining questions. Now if he can cut down his swing and his strikeout rate. (Editor's note: He struck out 22 more times through the end of the season, finishing with 171 whiffs to rank sixth-most in the minors.) Hughes first garnered attention during his breakout '07 campaign in the Florida State League, during which he won the batting title.
 
Rays Acquire
Gregg Zaun, c
Age: 38. Contract Status: 1 year, $2 million deal, plus 2010 club option.
Contract details courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts.

Club (League) Year AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB OBP SLG
Toronto (AL) 2007 .242 110
 331
 43
 80
 24
 1
 10
 52
 51
 55
 0
 .341 .411
Toronto (AL) 2008
 .237 86 245
 29
 58
 12
 0
 6
 30
 38
 38
 2
 .340 .359
Baltimore (AL) 2009
 .244 56 168
 23
 41
 10
 0
 4
 13
 27
 30
 0 .355 .375
3-Year Totals
 .241 252
 744
 95
 179
 46
 1
 20
 95
 116
 123 2
 .344 .386

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