
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 13, 1995                   TAG: 9508150008
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: PITTSBURGH                                 LENGTH: Short

PIRATES DENIED EX-FERRUM ACE

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been blocked from trading two of their three $2 million players, Orlando Merced and Jeff King, because both were claimed on waivers.

Until Aug. 31, teams must obtain waivers on players before trading them. The Pirates withdrew the waivers after Merced and King were claimed.

The Pirates were willing to trade Merced, their leading hitter, and King, their top run producer, to the Houston Astros for pitching prospect Billy Wagner, a former Ferrum College All-American.

Cincinnati general manager Jim Bowden, who recently signed infielder Mariano Duncan mostly so he wouldn't sign with another contender, is believed to have claimed King and Merced. The Astros are chasing the Reds in the NL Central.

The left-handed Wagner was the Astros' first-round draft pick in 1993 and is now pitching at Triple-A Tucson. He has one of the best arms in the minor leagues and his fastball has been timed in the 95 mph to 97 mph range.

Acquiring Merced and King would have helped shore up Houston's offense until 1994 National League MVP Jeff Bagwell returns from a broken hand, probably in early September.

Keywords:
BASEBALL

by CNB