ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 26, 1997 TAG: 9703260061
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOSTON GLOBE
With an eye to the future, Atlanta and Cleveland complete one of the biggest baseball trades in years.
The combination of soaring salaries and unpredictable revenues has discouraged blockbuster trades in baseball in recent years. But that didn't stop the Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians, who found happiness marching to their own drumbeats Tuesday.
The two clubs, who faced each other in the 1995 World Series, made a dramatic bid for a rematch with a deal involving three of baseball's top outfielders. The Braves get Kenny Lofton, arguably the game's premier center fielder-leadoff man, and Alan Embree, a hard-throwing left-handed reliever. In return, the Indians get slugging David Justice and speedy Marquis Grissom, considered one of the best outfielders in the game.
Don't make quick judgments. This is a complicated deal, based on considerations on and off the field. The Braves get an outstanding leadoff man and bullpen help, while dropping about $22 million in salary commitments over the next two years, but Lofton can become a free agent after this season. He reportedly had told Cleveland he wouldn't be back next year.
Justice, meanwhile, gives the Indians another bat to offset the loss of Albert Belle, who signed with the White Sox during the winter.
``I'm in shock,'' said Justice, who missed most of last year with a shoulder injury. ``I know this is a business and you have to understand that this is just part of the game. So, you just move on. If I was supposed to shed any tears, it was when I said goodbye to the guys.''
Grissom took the move in stride.
``This is a business,'' he said. ``I learned that when I went through the arbitration process. I enjoyed it here. We had a great ballclub. Now I'll go play my butt off. I'll just have to get used to [facing American League pitchers] Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens.''
``We think with Lofton we get an established center fielder and leadoff batter,'' said Atlanta general manager John Schuerholz. ``We've given up quite a bit of talent. But we feel that on balance, we think we have the best leadoff hitter in the game.''
With the reduction in payroll, the Braves may have found a way to retain the services of Cy Young pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, both free agents at the end of this season.
``Kenny Lofton is going to be a free agent at the end of the '97 season,'' Hart said. ``We went through that last year with Albert Belle, and Albert left us. We were not prepared to let that happen again.''
``I know how many guys from the '95 World Series team are gone, but it's a business,'' said Lofton, who denied he threatened to leave the Indians. ``They just transferred me from one business to another.''
Justice, 30, joined the Braves in 1989, replacing longtime favorite Dale Murphy in right field. His departure and that of Grissom, an Atlanta native, were emotional for a lot of people.
``Dave Justice has been here almost as long as I have,'' manager Bobby Cox said. ``Marquis Grissom has been a great spokesman for the team. I hate to lose guys like that. We feel that the ball club is going to be a strong ballclub with the trade we made - as good, if not better than before.''
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS. Kenny Lofton, arguably the game's bestby CNBcenter fielder, will take his dynamic game to Atlanta. Lofton will
become a free agent after this season if he doesn't re-sign.
(headshots) 2. Justice. 3. Grissom. color.