Dusty Bergman's career looked like it was going nowhere. Now it appears that Bergman has been given another shot.
Bergman, a 1996 Carson High graduate, was traded by the Los Angeles Angels to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. Bergman was part of a deal in which the Giants sent Jason Christiansen to the Angels. Bergman was scheduled to report to the Giants Triple A affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League, in Sacramento on Tuesday night.
Along with Bergman, the Giants also received minor league pitcher Ronnie Ray from the Angels. The Giants placed Christiansen on waivers last week.
The deal involving Bergman was one of two trades the Giants made on Tuesday, a day before today's deadline in which players who have been placed on waivers can be traded. The Giants also traded shortstop Deivi Cruz to the Washington Nationals for minor league pitcher Benjamin Cox.
Christiansen is a left-handed relief pitcher, who struggled with the Giants this season, posting a 6-1 record, but also a 5.36 earned run average. But the Angels have no left-handed relievers in their bullpen and felt the need to make the trade as they are in a tight playoff race with teams such as the Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees.
Bergman is also a left-handed reliever, but he admitted that it became painfully obvious to him that the Angels didn't have enough confidence to bring him up, going as far to say that the team had given up on him. Bergman did receive a cup of coffee with the Angels, making one appearance in the Major Leagues in 2004.
But Bergman said he was also thankful to the Angels for making the trade. He said if the Angels weren't going to give him a shot, he was glad that they traded him to a team that appears to want to give him a chance.
"I had a good seven years with the Angels and I'm ready to move on," Bergman said. "I'm real optimistic."
Bergman, 27, will become a free agent as soon as the PCL season ends next week if the Giants don't put him on their 40-man roster. So Bergman said it would be logical to think that the Giants would trade for him, and then allow him to become a free agent without putting him on their 40-man roster.
But Bergmam admitted he didn't know what the Giants' plans are. "I really don't know if they're going to put me on the 40-man roster, I don't know if I'm going to get a call-up, I don't know any of that," he said. "They seem to want me for something."
Bergman was named to this year's Triple A all-star game, representing the PCL against the International League in the game that was played in Sacramento. "I've pitched really well in the PCL the last two years," Bergman said.
But Bergman admitted that being called up to the Major Leagues doesn't always necessarily have to do with one's performance as it does with other circumstances. "I'll just have to wait and see," he said.
Bergman, though, said he wasn't worried that he was becoming to old to receive a legitimate shot in the Big Leagues. "I know a few guys who didn't get a legitimate shot until they were 30," he said.
This season, Bergman was 8-4 with a 3.17 E.R.A. and eight saves in 44 games. Bergman had his E.R.A. as low as 2.14, but has struggled somewhat in August. But Bergman still has an an oustanding year, especially in the PCL, which is a tough league for pitchers.
"The last month I've just had some bad luck," Bergmans said. "Anything under a 5 in the PCL, you're doing your job."
In addition, Bergman did say it was exciting to be traded to the Giants, noting his family and friends can make the trip to Fresno or San Francisco.
"I grew up watching the Giants on TV as a kid because they were always on TV," Bergman said.