By Jim Callis
June 19, 2003

Mark Bellhorn set a Cubs switch-hitting record with 27 homers in 2002 and started at third base for Chicago on Opening Day. But he started slowly and was kept on an extremely short leash until Thursday, when the Cubs decided a change was in order. They reacquired former Cub Jose Hernandez to play third base, sending Bellhorn and Double-A righthander Travis Anderson to the Rockies.

Hernandez, 33, played for Chicago from 1994-99. He was a National League all-star in 2002, when he led NL shortstops with 24 homers but also sat out the final weekend of the season so he wouldn't break Bobby Bonds' single-season strikeout record. (Hernandez finished one short, at 188.) Hernandez signed a one-year, $1 million contract with Colorado as a free agent during the offseason. In 69 games with the Rockies, he batted a disappointing .237-8-27, with his typical 95-27 strikeout-walk ratio in 257 at-bats. He's a free swinger who will hit for power but also will strike out in bunches and won't get on base very often. Defensively, he has a strong arm and has played everywhere but pitcher and catcher during his 12-year major league career. He has .254-141-494 totals with a .313 on-base percentage and .423 slugging percentage in 1,242 games.

Bellhorn, 28, made the most of his first extended chance at major league playing time in 2002. Acquired from Oakland the previous offseason for minor league infielder Adam Morrissey, Bellhorn never was able to stick with the Athletics after they made him a first-round pick in 1995. He batted .258-27-56 in 144 games with the Cubs, drawing 76 walks to post a a fine .374 OBP. The Cubs cut him little slack this year, however, reducing his playing time after he batted .194 in April. He was hitting .209-2-22 in 51 games at the time of the trade. Like Hernandez, he has a strong arm and defensive versatility, having played all four infield and both corner outfield positions in the majors. He's a career .227-36-102 hitter in 323 big league games, with a .342 OBP and .412 slugging percentage. He's making $465,000 this season and will be eligible for arbitration afterward.

Anderson, 25, was an Astros second-round pick out of the University of Washington in 1999 and joined the Cubs last September in a trade for Tom Gordon. He opened 2003 by not allowing an earned run in 22 2/3 innings over 12 appearances at high Class A Daytona, prompting a promotion to Double-A West Tenn, where he went 2-3, 4.37 in 14 appearances (five starts). His combined record is 4-3, 2.65 in 58 innings, with a 48-14 strikeout-walk ratio and .221 opponent batting average. Anderson has a live arm and has reached the mid-90s in the past, but has made more strides the last two years when he started to realize command matters more than velocity. He projects as a setup man.