Mark Kotsay was traded to the San Diego Padres along with OF Cesar Crespo for RHP Matt Clement, OF Eric Owens, and RHP Omar Ortiz. Clement, 26, went 13-17, with a 5.14 ERA in 34 starts for San Diego last season. In his second full season in the majors, Clement led the Padres in wins, starts, innings (205.0) and strikeouts (170). His 170 strikeouts were the 10th most in Padre history and his 7.46 K

The Florida Marlins announced Monday they have selected first baseman Adrian Gonzalez with the first overall selection in the 2000 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The Marlins have also agreed to terms with Gonzalez. A native of Bonita, California, the 6-2, 195 lb. Gonzalez hit .645 (49×76) with 13 home runs, 12 doubles, 42 runs and 34 RBI for Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, CA this season. Gonzalez, 18, was rated by Baseball America as the best pure hitter in this year’s draft. He was the CIF Player of the Year and the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Player of the Year and had a 3.5 overall GPA at Eastlake.

Florida chose high school right-hander Josh Beckett with the second pick in the Major League Baseball Entry Draft. Beckett, from Spring High School in Texas, was the first high school right-hander taken as high as second since Bill Gullickson in 1979. He was 13-2 with an 0.39 ERA and 178 strikeouts in 89 innings this season. Beckett, 6-4, impressed scouts with a fastball that hits the mid-90s consistently, and a lively curveball.

After a year of courting, the Marlins finally acquired 3B Mike Lowell from the New York Yankees. In exchange, the Marlins paid a heavy price by sending Eddie Yarnell, Mark Johnson, and Todd Noel. All three are pitchers.

Yarnell, a left from Coral Springs, was originally acquired in the Piazza trade from the Mets. Johnson was acquired in the Alou trade and Noel was acquired in the Felix Heredia trade. Lowell is a power hitting third baseman, considered the top prospect in the Yankees organization. He was the key name circulated when the Yankees tried to acquire Randy Johnson (Lowell was then supposed to be traded to the Marlins for Louis Castillo), but that fell through. Lowell spent most of last season in AAA where he hit .304 with 26 homers and 99 RBIs. He had 15 at bats for the major league team and he had 4 hits. The 24 year old right handed hitter will wear number 28 and live in Coral Gables, where he grew up. He was a college All-American at Florida International University.

Lowell will be given the opportunity to win the starting job from Kevin Orie.

The papers are officially signed. John Henry wrote a $158 million dollar check and the Florida Marlins are no longer part of Huizenga Holdings. Huizenga and Henry met in Wayne’s office, hugged and laughed, and then completed the sale. Now Henry just needs the League’s approval, a mere formality considering their familiarty with Henry.

John Boles, the Marlins director of player development, who replaced Rene Lachmen in 1996 and lead the team to a 40-35 record will be named the new manager of the Florida Marlins.