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PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks added a pair of familiar
names to their roster on Friday. The team claimed ex-Diamondback Byun-Hyung Kim and former
all-star infielder Jeff Cirillo off waivers -- Kim from Florida and
Cirillo from Minnesota. Kim, who struck out a career-high 10 against the Rockies on
Wednesday, was 6-5 with a 4.63 ERA with the Marlins and Rockies.
Florida acquired him from Colorado on May 13 in a trade for
reliever Jorge Julio. Kim, 28, spent his first four-plus major league seasons in
Arizona, mostly as a reliever. He saved 70 games from 1999-2002 in
Arizona. Kim was the closer for the Diamondbacks in their World
Series championship season of 2001, surrendering two memorable
game-blowing home runs to New York in Yankee Stadium before Arizona
returned home to win the final two games. Kim fell out of favor after the team put him in the starting
rotation in 2003, and was traded on May 29, 2003, to the Boston Red
Sox for Shea Hillenbrand. The 37-year-old Cirillo left the Milwaukee Brewers, his original
team, this winter for a $1.5 million, one-year contract and the
prospect of more playing time. He was bothered this spring by a medial meniscus cartilage tear
in his left knee, though, and had trouble finding a comfort zone
after spending about a month on the disabled list at the beginning
of the season. Cirillo played mostly at third base and designated
hitter, but rookie Brian Buscher and the recently activated Rondell
White have been receiving the most at-bats at those spots. Cirillo, a two-time All-Star who has also spent time in his
career with the Colorado Rockies, Seattle Mariners and San Diego
Padres, was batting .261 with nine doubles, two triples, two homers
and 21 RBIs in 153 at-bats. Cirillo will join an Arizona team that
recently moved into first place in the NL West and play for manager
Bob Melvin, whom he played for with the Mariners. To make room for the newcomers, Arizona moved Randy Johnson from
the 60-day disabled list and designated infielder Brian Barden for
assignment.
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