Tigers get Huff from Orioles for minor leaguer

By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

BALTIMORE(AP) -- The Detroit Tigers bolstered their offense for a
pennant drive by obtaining first baseman Aubrey Huff from the
Baltimore Orioles for a minor leaguer.

"I've been in last place basically my whole career, so this is
an exciting time for me," Huff said. "I'm looking forward to
it."

The Tigers began Monday leading the Chicago White Sox by 2 1/2
games in the AL Central. The last-place Orioles obtained pitcher
Brett Jacobson from Detroit and assigned the right-hander to
Class A Frederick.

Huff is batting .253 with 13 homers and 72 RBIs. The 32-year-old
Huff recently hit his 200th career homer and should fit in
nicely in a Detroit lineup that ranks 11th in the AL in runs and
seventh in home runs.

Still, with the non-waiver trading deadline passed and little
talk of a deal, Huff expected to finish the season in Baltimore.

When he was summoned to manager Dave Trembley's office Monday
afternoon, Huff figured it was for a pep talk. Then Huff saw
Orioles president Andy MacPhail sitting with the skipper and
suspected something was up.

"I didn't really expect anything," Huff said. "I cleared waivers
and there wasn't a lot of interest I'd heard of. So this one
kind of hit me out of left field."

Huff said he was sad to leave an Orioles team finally reaping
the benefits of rebuilding through youth.

"This is probably the best young talent I've been around and
I've been around some young talent. ... You got an All-Star in
Adam Jones, and a superstar in Nick Markakis that nobody knows
about," he said. "(Brian) Matusz, (Chris) Tillman, all these
young guys coming up. It's a very exciting time here and
Baltimore should have a lot to look forward to."

Huff spoke briefly with Detroit manager Jim Leyland by telephone
Monday and said he expects to join the Tigers on Tuesday, when
they open a three-game home series against Seattle.

Jacobson was 1-3 with six saves and a 3.74 ERA in 35 games with
Class A Lakeland this season.

The Orioles didn't immediately replace Huff on their 25-man
roster and were prepared to play a man short against the Los
Angeles Angels on Monday.