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Tuesday, July 28, 1998
Stars' Devereaux creates space
Veteran Mike Devereaux clears a spot for Archi Cianfrocco by offering to take himself off the active roster.
By Matt Jacob
Review-Journal
When veteran utilityman Archi Cianfrocco arrived at Cashman Field on Monday night, the Stars found themselves with 24 players for a 23-man roster.
The math was easy: Somebody had to go.
The decision, however, was not easy, because with every position player performing well lately, nobody deserved to go.
Then, before the Stars' 4-3 victory over the Albuquerque Dukes, Las Vegas outfielder Mike Devereaux met with manager Jerry Royster and offered to take one for the team.
Although he had been enjoying his stay with the Stars -- and had been on a recent hot streak -- the 35-year-old Devereaux was anxious to return to the major leagues, where he's played 1,086 games over the past 11 years. So Devereaux chose to deactivate himself while his agent tries to find a place for him in the majors.
Devereaux's decision cleared a roster spot, thereby taking Royster off the hook. However, Royster wasn't exactly relieved.
"We're losing a true professional," Royster said of Devereaux. "This guy is just absolutely wonderful to work with -- wonderful.
"So no, this isn't easy at all. I'd much rather have Mike Devereaux than not have Mike Devereaux. ... But he's a big leaguer. It isn't like maybe he is; he is. And he shouldn't have to play minor-league baseball just for the fun of it."
Which is how Devereaux felt all along.
In fact, when he signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on June 9 and was assigned to Las Vegas, Devereaux and San Diego general manager Kevin Towers made a deal: If the Padres decided they didn't need a veteran outfielder during their playoff drive, Towers would inform Devereaux.
Towers did just that when he was in town Saturday.
"You want to keep all your options open, and at this stage in my career, I feel this is the best thing I can do," said Devereaux, who began this season with the Los Angeles Dodgers before being released in April. "I respect Kevin. He's a man of his word. He came to me, and he told me he was giving me the opportunity to (search) for another team.
"No doubt, I wish this team and San Diego the best of luck. I had a great time here, and I would've loved to have been in San Diego. But the cards just didn't fall my way."
In 34 games with the Stars, Devereaux batted just .267 with two homers, 10 doubles, 19 runs and 12 RBIs. But lately, he had found a groove, hitting .450 (9-for-20) with a homer, five runs and three RBIs in his last five games.
"He's leaving us on his highest note," Royster said. "This is as consistent as he's swung the bat since he's got here."
Actually, Devereaux isn't leaving Las Vegas just yet. While his agent shops his services, Devereaux will work out with the Stars and might travel with the team when it leaves for an eight-game road trip Wednesday.
But there's little chance he'll come off the disabled list and play again for the Stars.
"It's a very difficult transition after playing (so long) in the big leagues to come down to the minor leagues," said Devereaux, who last played full-time in the minors in 1988. "I feel that I've learned a lot about the game, and in that sense, I feel that I can play for someone (in the majors). ... It's just a matter of getting the opportunity."
And if that opportunity doesn't come?
"If no team wants me or needs me," he said, "I'll go home."
-- NOTES -- Stars right-hander Brian Tollberg (4-3) pitched seven strong innings, and Dusty Allen broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh with a two-run homer. Las Vegas (52-50) has won three straight and seven of its past eight to climb two games over .500 for the first time since June 6. ... Tollberg allowed two runs and six hits with no walks and four strikeouts. ... Stars outfielder Aaron Guiel, on the DL since June 9 with vision problems, said he will begin a rehab assignment Wednesday at the Padres' spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz.
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