The emergence of Albert Pujols as a big-league prospect enabled the Cardinals to swap third baseman Fernando Tatis for the left-handed reliever they needed.
On Dec. 14, 2000, the Cardinals acquired pitchers Steve Kline and Dustin Hermanson from the Expos for Tatis and pitcher Britt Reames.
Hermanson was projected as a starter to join a Cardinals rotation with Darryl Kile, Matt Morris and Andy Benes, “but the player they really want is Kline,” the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported
A reliever who led National League pitchers in appearances in 1999 (82) and 2000 (83), Kline was a durable, effective left-hander.
A lack of reliable left-handed relief limited the late-inning maneuvering Cardinals manager Tony La Russa could do in 2000. Jesse Orosco and Scott Radinsky both had health issues and hardly played. Their replacements were Jason Christiansen (5.40 ERA), Mike Mohler (9.00) and Mike Matthews (11.57).
“Kline is the left-handed reliever the Cardinals have been seeking for years,” columnist Bernie Miklasz wrote in the Post-Dispatch.
Stock drop
To get Kline, the Cardinals had to give up Tatis, a right-handed power hitter, but they were confident they had a replacement in Pujols. Though he had one season of experience as a professional, Pujols, 20, looked to the Cardinals to be on the cusp of reaching the majors.
Tatis, acquired by the Cardinals from the Rangers in July 1998, had a breakout season in 1999 when he became the first player to hit two grand slams in an inning. Tatis hit .298 in 1999 and had an on-base percentage of .404. He scored 104 runs, drove in 107, slugged 34 home runs and had 21 stolen bases.
He appeared headed for another big season in 2000 when he hit .375 in April and drove in 28 runs in 21 games, but on April 29 he suffered a tear of his left groin and was sidelined for two months.
When he returned on June 30, Cardinals management noticed Tatis wasn’t applying himself to conditioning and workouts.
“Tatis had issues a lot of guys face after having big years,” La Russa said to the Post-Dispatch. “They forget how hard they worked. I didn’t think he prepared himself as well.”
Tatis hit .183 in August and .186 in September. La Russa benched him in the National League Division Series versus the Braves.
After the season, the Post-Dispatch reported, “There apparently is some indecision in the organization whether to trade Tatis, but on the horizon is Albert Pujols.”
Playing primarily third base, Pujols hit .314 with 41 doubles and 96 RBI in the Cardinals’ farm system in 2000.
“Fast-rising Albert Pujols is not figured to be far away” from being ready for the majors, the Post-Dispatch reported.
Assessing value
After deciding to trade Tatis, Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty tried to convince the Expos to take a player other than Reames in the deal. Reames debuted with the Cardinals in August 2000 and was 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA. He also got the win in the decisive Game 3 of the NL Division Series.
The Expos wouldn’t make the trade without Reames included.
“I know Walt tried as hard as he could to get him out of the deal,” La Russa said. “He even offered three or four players instead of Britt.”
When the trade was announced, Bernie Miklasz noted, “Some fans are freaking out” about the departure of Tatis.
“That’s understandable,” Miklasz wrote. “Baseball has become a homer-crazy game and we’ve developed a homer-crazy mentality.
“Jocketty was absolutely correct to go out and reinforce his pitching staff, even if it meant sacrificing Tatis,” Miklasz concluded. “Jocketty wouldn’t have made the deal unless the organization was confident Albert Pujols is the real deal. Pujols could be a Cardinal next year.”
Tatis told Miklasz, “I was surprised to be traded. I was disappointed. If I didn’t get hurt last season, with the numbers I would have put up, they wouldn’t have traded me.
“I thought I’d be in St. Louis for a long time.”
Loopy lefty
Jack Todd of the Montreal Gazette offered, “If there is a part of this deal that causes real pain in Montreal, it’s the loss of Kline.”
Kline had a reputation for being a free spirit. “He’s a lefty, and all lefties are crazy,” Hermanson told the Post-Dispatch. “You want those guys in the bullpen, not scared to do anything.”
Born in rural Sunbury, Pa., about 55 miles north of the state capital of Harrisburg, Kline said, “I’m weird. I am a goofy left-hander. They called me a groundhog when I was a kid. Nothing but dirt.
“My brothers were electrocuting me when I was a kid. I was ratting everyone out to my mom, so they tied me up to a fence and they shocked me to teach me a lesson. I learned quick.”
Kline said he threw sinkers to right-handed batters and sliders to left-handers, and he enjoyed pitching as often as possible.
“I get paid to pitch,” he said. “I’m not getting paid to sit there.”
One-sided deal
The deal worked out well for the Cardinals.
Kline established a Cardinals franchise record for most games pitched in a season, making a league-leading 89 appearances in 2001. The only others to pitch in 80 or more games in a season for the Cardinals are Ray King (86 in 2004) and Kevin Siegrist (81 in 2015).
Left-handed batters hit .150 versus Kline in 2001 and none hit a home run against him.
Hermanson was 14-13 in 33 starts for the 2001 Cardinals.
Pujols opened the 2001 season as the Cardinals’ left fielder. He also made starts at third base, first base and right field. He won the National League Rookie of the Year Award, hitting .329, scoring 112 runs and driving in 130.
In four seasons (2001-2004) with the Cardinals, Kline was 12-11 with 21 saves and a 2.69 ERA. In 13 postseason games for St. Louis, Kline was 0-1 with two saves and an 0.96 ERA. He became a free agent after the 2004 season and signed with the Orioles.
Hermanson was traded to the Red Sox for prospects after the 2001 season. He rejoined the Cardinals in 2003 and got released in June. Two years later, he had 34 saves as the closer for the World Series champion White Sox.
In three years with the Expos, Tatis hit .225. He never again approached the kind of success he had with the Cardinals.
Reames also played three seasons with the Expos and was 5-12 with a 5.53 ERA.
RetroSimba 
Even though he was with us for only four years, Steve Kline ranks 18th in Cardinal pitching appearances with 300. So let me see, 401 players were taken ahead of Albert Pujols? The baseball experts were having a bad day!
Thanks. In doing the research for this piece, I was impressed, and a bit surprised, that Albert Pujols was viewed during the baseball off-season of 2000 as probably ready for the major leagues after just one season in the minors. I previously was under the impression that when he made the team’s Opening Day roster during 2001 spring training that it was a bit more of a stunner.
Those quotes in the Kline piece are HILARIOUS. Always love reminiscing on this page!
Thanks. I am glad you appreciate the Kline remarks about his boyhood. I thought they were funny, too. I had fun finding them for this piece. Credit goes to Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for getting those humorous Kline remarks during an interview with him at Cardinals spring training camp in 2001.
Steve Kline is the guy in the foxhole, where if a grenade lands in it, he’ll pick it up and throw it back.
Great line! Thanks.