 After going 12-8 with a 2.36 earned run average with the Fort Lauderdale Yankees in , Birtsas' season was delayed by a leg injury in spring training.Once activated, he went 5-1 with a 3.59 ERA in ten starts to help his team win the Florida State League championship.After the season, he was packaged with Jay Howell, Stan Javier, José Rijo and Eric Plunk in a trade to Oakland for Rickey Henderson.