MONTREAL -- The Montreal Expos have acquired veteran infielder U.L. Washington from the Kansas City Royals for two minor-league players, Expos general manager Murray Cook said Monday.
The Expos gave up outfielder Ken Baker and left-handed pitcher Mike Kinnunen to get Washington.
Washington, 31, has spent his entire seven-year major-league career with Kansas City since breaking into the majors September 1977.
The shortstop, considered one of the better defensive players in the majors, is entering the final year of a three-year contract. The Royals will pay half of his $650,000 salary this season as part of the deal.
In 63 games in 1984, Washington batted .224 with one home run and 10 RBI. He has a career batting average of .254 with 121 stolen bases.
Washington has played in two American League championship series and one World Series with a combined post-season average of .294.
He is expected to back up Hubie Brooks, whom the Expos acquired last month as part of the deal that sent Gary Carter to the New York Mets.
