CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians have traded All-Star second baseman Manny Trillo, who had declared his intention to return to the National League next season, to the Montreal Expos for a minor league player and cash.
The trade was the best deal the Indians could make, team President Gabe Paul said Wednesday.
'Manny is a free agent at the end of the season and about 6-7 weeks ago we came to the conclusion that we would not be able to sign him for 1984. Therefore, we made the best deal we could,' Paul said.
'When we got Trillo from the (Philadelphia) Phillies, we thought we could sign him. Later, we realized it was out of the realm of possibility.'
The Indians traded Trillo Wedensday to Montreal for Class AA outfielder Don Carter and cash, believed to be more than $100,000.
Trillo, 32, was demanding a five-year contract worth $4 million from the Indians and said he will demand the same from Montreal. 'If they want me, they'll pay me. If not, someone else will,' he said.
The three-time Gold Glove winner said he was glad to be leaving Cleveland.
'After a while, I knew I'd never sign here,' he said. 'There weren't many fans and they were rough. I was hurt and they would boo me when I went into the game for defense or to hit.
'I ask, why boo me? What did I do?'
The Indians obtained Trillo in the off-season, along with shortstop Julio Franco, outfielder George Vukovich, and Gerry Willard in exchange for rookie outfielder Von Hayes.
Indians' first baseman Mike Hargrove said the trade was best for everyone involved.
'It was a pleasure to play next to Manny, but he wanted out. He never wanted to leave Philadelphia and he couldn't wait to get back to the National League. Everyone knew Cleveland was a one-year stop for Trillo,' he said.
Trillo batted .270 for the Indians and had been sidelined the last few weeks with a leg injury.
Cleveland Manager Pat Corrales said he would replace Trillo on the roster with either Mike Jeffcoat or Ernie Camacho, both pitchers with the Indians' AAA farm team in Charleston.
Carter, who was batting .305 with the Memphis Chicks, was assigned to the Indians' AA team in Buffalo.
