By Josh Boyd
December 15, 2002

Two days after negotiations with Chuck Finley hit a snag, Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty took advantage of the Padres' financial situation to acquire Brett Tomko on Sunday. The price was Luther Hackman and a player to be named later, whom Baseball America has learned will be Class A righthander Mike Wodnicki.

Tomko, a 29-year-old righthander, is coming off his best season since he went 13-12, 4.44 in 1998 for the Reds. After joining the Padres in a six-player deal with the Mariners last December, he went 10-10, 4.49 with 126 strikeouts in 204 innings. Tomko, who made $1.1 million last year, is expected to command more than $5 million in arbitration. His fastball can reach the mid-90s and has sinking life, and his second-best pitch is a power curveball. In 164 career games, he has gone 49-42, 4.46.

Hackman, a 28-year-old righthander, worked 37 games out of the bullpen and made six starts last year for St. Louis. He went 5-4, 4.11 with 46 strikeouts in 81 innings. He throws in the low 90s and generates good sink and cutter action off his fastball. His command has been below average, and his slider and changeup are inconsistent. He has gone 7-8, 5.08 in 84 big league games.

Wodnicki, 22, was drafted in the 16th round out of Stanford in 2001. He went 11-10, 3.49 with 131 strikeouts and just 37 walks in 155 innings in 2002, spending his first full season at low Class A Peoria. He throws a lively low-90s fastball and tight slider with above-average command and control.

Dec. 16 update: Wodnicki was confirmed as the player to be named.