By Josh Boyd
May 26, 2003

The Cardinals made a move to shore up their struggling bullpen on Monday, acquiring Esteban Yan and cash from the Rangers for Class A outfielder Rick Asadoorian.

Yan, a 27-year-old righthander, signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract last December after going 7-8, 4.30 with 19 saves for the Devil Rays in 2002. He struggled with an 0-1, 6.94 record in middle relief for Texas, allowing 31 hits and seven walks while fanning 25 in 23 innings. At times he'll flash a mid-90s fastball and back it up with a devastating slider and splitter, but he doesn't show that quality of stuff on a consistent basis. Yan has a career record of 26-32, 5.35 in 288 big league games. The Rangers designated him for assignment on May 17 after activating Ismael Valdes from the disabled list.

Asadoorian, 22, was hitting .192-1-10 in 130 at-bats for high Class A Palm Beach. Drafted 17th overall by the Red Sox out of a Massachusetts high school in 1999, Asadoorian hit a career-high .265 last year at low Class A Peoria. The Cardinals acquired him from the Red Sox as part of a three-player package for righthander Dustin Hermanson in December 2001. Asadoorian is an outstanding athlete with above-average defensive skills and speed, but scouts have questioned his bat since high school.