BOSTON -- Seattle traded Mark Langston to the Montreal Expos for three young pitching prospects Thursday after the ace left-hander turned down a three-year, $7.1 million deal from the Mariners.
The announcement was made by Mariners officials following a 10-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
In exchange for Langston, who had a 74-67 record in five-plus seasons for Seattle, the Expos sent Randy Johnson, Brian Holman, and Eugene Harris to the Mariners.
Johnson, at 6-10 the tallest pitcher in major-league history, is a 25-year-old left-hander. Holman, 23, and Harris, 24, are right-handers.
'This is a very tough thing for me,' said Langston. 'I've never been through this. Saying goodbye to the guys on the team is the hardest thing.'
Langston did not indicate that he had agreed to a contract with the Expos.
Despite the stalled contract talks and constant trade rumors, the 28-year-old left-hander, who has led the American League in strikeouts three times since 1984, was visibly upset after learning about the trade.
'I'm in a state of shock right at the moment,' he said. 'You try to prepare yourself for the situation, but still when it hits you ... I'm somewhat depressed about it.
'The Met thing (a possible trade to the Mets) in spring training was the closest I got and I really felt that was a done deal. When that fell through, I was a little distraught. But until it happens, you really don't know the magnitude.'
Seattle General Manager Woody Woodward said that many other clubs had made offers for Langston, but the Montreal deal was the best in terms of meeting Seattle's needs.
'We've heard from just about every club,' said Woodward. 'Let's be honest. What club in baseball would not be interested in Langston?'
Woodward said that he had talked to Montreal on and off since the winter meetings. 'I can't speak for Montreal,' he said, 'but I do know they feel that Mark can help sway that division race in their favor. They're giving up three good, young pitchers, all close to the big leagues. One of them (Holman) is a big leaguer.'
Harold Reynolds, a teammate of Langston since the pitcher joined Seattle, was disappointed with the trade. 'Every time he goes to the mound, you've got a chance to win,' said Reynolds. 'I'm really going to miss that feeling.
