Expos finally get their hands on Patterson

By Jim Callis
March 25, 2004

In 1996, the Expos made John Patterson the fifth overall pick in the draft out of a Texas high school. But due to a little-known rule that three other first-round picks that year also would exploit, Patterson became a free agent when Montreal didn't tender him a formal contract before the prescribed deadline. He signed with the newly created Diamondbacks for $6.075 million.

The Expos finally got their man on Thursday. After Patterson had failed in multiple attempts to crack the Arizona rotation and was struggling again this spring, the Diamondbacks traded him for Randy Choate.

Patterson, a 26-year-old righthander, has recovered from Tommy John surgery in 2000. He has regained his trademark shoulder-to-shoetops curveball, though the velocity on his fastball has dropped slightly to the low 90s. He hasn't been able to break through to the majors because he hasn't been able to find a consistent third pitch or throw strikes at that level. In 16 games (eight starts) with Arizona last year, he went 1-4, 6.05. In 55 innings, he had a 43-30 strikeout-walk ratio while opponents batted .281 with seven homers. He was much more effective at Triple-A Tucson, where he went 10-5, 2.63 in 18 starts. Patterson's big league career record is 3-4, 5.04 in 23 games (13 starts). Montreal will give him a chance to make its rotation, which has been weakened by the temporary loss of Tony Armas Jr. to a muscle pull in his side.

Choate, a 28-year-old lefty, had joined the Expos in the Dec. 4 Javier Vazquez trade with the Yankees. Choate spent parts of the last four seasons with New York, going 3-2, 4.43 in 82 games, including five in 2003. In 91 innings, he has a 64-51 K-BB ratio but has held hitters to a .221 average and four homers. He spent most of last year at Triple-A Columbus, where he went 3-5, 3.91 in 54 appearances. He's a lefty specialist, as he lacks a plus pitch or command.