MONTREAL | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1989 | SINCE 1778 | SPORTS FINAL

The Expos have started off 5-1 in June, including winning their last three against the Cardinals. How did they celebrate? They dealt their best run producer from the past two seasons and their opening day closer and center fielder.

In a deal that had been in the works since late-May, the Expos sent third baseman Edgar Martinez, center fielder Lloyd Moseby and reliever Gene Nelson to the Toronto Blue Jays for left fielder Brian Harper, second baseman Kelly Gruber and minor leaguers Lance Blankenship, Damon Berryhill and Ravelo Manzanillo.

Martinez was the 5th overall pick by the Expos in the 1986 amateur draft. He had been the team's best hitter the past two years, making the NL all-star team each of his first two seasons. However, Martinez had been struggling this season under new manager Mike Hargrove. The 26-year-old third baseman was hitting just .203 on the season and was fourth on the team with only four home runs after averaging 30 per season in 1987 and '88.

Moseby came to the Expos last season from Boston in a trade for infielder Fred Manrique.  Moseby had struggle in 2 1/2 years with the Red Sox, hitting below .230 with an on-base percentage below .320 during his stay. After the trade to Montreal, Moseby returned to the form he showed early in his career hitting .242 with a .340 OBP. Had he played the entire season in Montreal he likely would have won the NL Gold Glove award. However, Moseby, like Martinez, struggled offensively under Hargrove's leadership. The 29-year-old center fielder was eventually benched for reserve outfielder Henry Cotto by mid-May. Moseby returns to Toronto where he spent the first six seasons of his Major League career before joining the Red Sox as a free agent.

Nelson was the Expos' top reliever a year ago. He led the team with a 2.28 ERA and finished the season as the team's closer. Nelson opened this season as the closer and the Expos thought they had found a long-term solution to finish out games. Unfortunately, Nelson regressed this season. The 28-year-old reliever posted an 0-4 record and a 4.94 ERA before the trade. By late-May he had lost his closer's role to rookie Mike Hartley.

The acquisition of Harper reunites him with Expos general manager Tom Grieve who traded for the outfielder while he was with the Rangers. Unfortunately, Grieve was fired by Texas that season and was never able to reap the benefits of what has become one of the league's best contact hitters.

Harper is currently leading the Major Leagues in batting, hitting .363 through 58 games with the Blue Jays. He signed as a free agent with Toronto prior to the season and had split time between left field and third base with the Blue Jays. Grieve said at the press conference to announce the trade that he expected Harper to primarily play left field and fill in occasionally at third base, right field and possibly first base.

The third base job for the Expos will now go to Gruber. The 27-year-old had spent his entire career with Toronto playing mostly second base. However, the Expos feel he will be better suited at third base, especially considering they have a potential all-star at second base in Johnny Ray. Gruber's best season was his rookie season in 1985 when he hit 24 home runs. He has not hit over 16 home runs since then but Grieve said he expects Gruber to hit 15-20 home runs and play solid defensively at third base.

The other three players acquired by the Expos were Blankenship, a second baseman who can also play first base and right field, Berryhill, a catching prospect and Manzanillo, a reliever with excellent "stuff" but who has struggled with his control.