D-Backs trade Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez to the Mets for Jorge Julio

[Evil Ash]

Anybody hear anything about this and know who we got in return?

 

[The Commish]

El Duque traded to Mets

D-Backs trade Duque to Mets for Julio

ESPN.com news services


El Duque is headed back to the Big Apple.

The New York Mets acquired Orlando Hernandez from the Diamdondbacks in a trade for right-hander Jorge Julio, Arizona GM Josh Byrnes announced Wednesday.

Hernandez, 36, went 2-4 with a 6.11 ERA in nine starts with the Diamondbacks this season. He was acquired with Luis Vizcaino and Chris Young in the trade that sent Javier Vazquez and cash to the White Sox on Dec. 20, 2005. Over eight seasons in the majors, including six with the Yankees, Hernandez is 172-167 with a 4.20 ERA.

Julio, 27, is 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA in 18 relief outings with the Mets this season. Julio has compiled a 12-26 record with 84 saves and a 4.26 ERA in 299 major-league appearances (all in relief).

Julio began his career in the Expos organization and was acquired by the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Ryan Minor on Dec. 22, 2000. He was traded to the Mets on Jan. 20, 2006, along with John Maine in exchange for Kris Benson.

 

[Evil Ash]

So we traded a starter for a reliever when we need starters? A weird move if you ask me. They must think one of our minor league starters (ie Nippert) is MLB ready

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Adios El Duque.. We hardly knew ya.

So we traded a starter for a reliever when we need starters? A weird move if you ask me. They must think one of our minor league starters (ie Nippert) is MLB ready

Either that or they're clearing the way to acquire another starter. Not that El Duque was blocking the way of Arizona acquiring another starter, however this makes you wonder.

 

[The Commish]

Adios El Duque.. We hardly knew ya.



Either that or they're clearing the way to acquire another starter. Not that El Duque was blocking the way of Arizona acquiring another starter, however this makes you wonder.

Or call up Nippert...

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Either that or they're clearing the way to acquire another starter. Not that El Duque was blocking the way of Arizona acquiring another starter, however this makes you wonder.

First.. I must apologize for my recent inactivity on this forum.. Life's been extremely hectic for me lately....

Anyways... I was about post the exact same theory... I am wondering if this signifies that the Willis discussions are in later stages than everyone is lead to believe? Perhaps Julio will be added onto the deal (but highly unlikely since the Marlins are in cost-cutting mode)......However... the Marlins do a lack an effective legit closer, so perhaps they would be desperate enough to take on Julio's contract....

Even so.. the Dbacks dont even need a middle-reliever since Vizcaino, Lyons, and even Grimsley has been impressive in that role...

Obviously the Dbacks wouldnt deal Valverde who has been lights-out for someone who's struggled beyond belief in recent years......

I wager that Jarvis will be added to the rotation in the interim.. that if he fails.. then..unfortunately for everyone else.. there will be another Russ Ortiz sighting.... however... it all shall be interesting regardless.. Especially since the Dbacks do have a legit shot at winning this division....

 

[Ryanwb]

Russ Ortiz is coming back

 

[FinleyLover]

Adios El Duque.. We hardly knew ya.



Either that or they're clearing the way to acquire another starter. Not that El Duque was blocking the way of Arizona acquiring another starter, however this makes you wonder.

Yeah, I wondering this also. Sounds like they are clearing a space for a starter. We could be hearing an announcement (possibly about Willis) real soon, as we are now a 4 man rotation again.

 

[CardEd]

Maybe it was cost cutting on our part......

OH 4.6 mil
JJ 2.2 mil

 

[Ryanwb]

I honestly don't think that Valverde has been lights out this season. He almost never has a clean 9th inning. This is a confusing move to say the least

 

[Yuma]

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El Duque dealt to Mets
D-Backs acquire Mets reliever Julio

Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
May 24, 2006

The Diamondbacks traded Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez to the New York Mets for right-handed reliever Jorge Julio.

Hernandez, 36, went 2-4 with a 6.11 ERA in 9 starts with the Diamondbacks this season games. He was acquired with Luis Vizcaino and Chris Young in the trade that sent Javier Vazquez and cash considerations to the White Sox on Dec. 20, 2005.

Arizona will decide among Kevin Jarvis, Enrique Gonzalez and Dustin Nippert for the now-vacant spot in the rotation, which comes on Monday in New York.

Julio, 27, has gone 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA in 18 relief outings with the Mets this season. He has recorded a 2.04 ERA (4 ER in 17.2 IP) in his last 14 trips to the mound. Julio has compiled a 12-26 record with 84 saves and a 4.26 ERA in 299 major league appearances (all in relief).

Julio began his career in the Montreal Expos' organization, signing as a non-drafted free agent on Feb. 14, 1996. He was acquired by the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Ryan Minor on Dec. 22, 2000. He was traded to the Mets on Jan. 20, 2006, along with John Maine in exchange for Kris Benson.

Julio is a native of and makes his home in Caracas, Venezuela.

More info.... No Russ Ortiz!

 

[AZZenny]

I can't see how reducing our starting rotation from basically 4.5 to 3.5 indicates anything is happening with a trade for a major starter. This does seem very curious.

 

[Yuma]

I can't see how reducing our starting rotation from basically 4.5 to 3.5 indicates anything is happening with a trade for a major starter. This does seem very curious.

Gonzalez, Nippert, or Jarvis gets to warm the bench while we work on Dontrelle! I really don't know what Florida is waiting for? Not like they are in playoff contention, and Willis can bring them some tools to build on now. They could get guys into their system earlier.

 

[NEZCardsfan]

Russ Ortiz is coming back

 

[devilfan02]

I honestly don't think that Valverde has been lights out this season. He almost never has a clean 9th inning. This is a confusing move to say the least

Where did that come from?

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I honestly don't think that Valverde has been lights out this season. He almost never has a clean 9th inning. This is a confusing move to say the least

I must admit that I havent really watched that much of Valverde pitch this season, but he was "lights-out" the rare times I have.... However.. I know that doesnt suggest much....

The Marlins are in dire need of a closer... Joe Borowski is their closer and he's had a history of several injury related issues...

Thanks CardEd for including Julio's salary, because I actually thought he was earning more.... Therefore, since Julio has a rather lesser salary, I am wondering if the Marlins would be more inclined to take him along with perhaps Chris Young in exchange for Willis...

Young is the lesser of the supposed 4-players that the Marlins have been demanding and by adding Julio to the mix with Young.. it would help lessen their insistance of either Drew or Upton.. it would essentially be of equal value.... Or perhaps Montero (Estrada has proven to have recovered from his injury and could be a long-term solution at catcher) could be tossed in w/Julio and a lesser Dbacks prospect... We shall see.. this creates several interesting scenarios, but I definitely trust Byrnes and Co. at this point....

 

[devilfan02]

IMO, Byrnes is setting up for another trade that will ship off Julio. The Dbacks have had their eye on Julio for awhile so it makes some sense even if we don't ship him off soon. Bottom line was that El Duque was probably gonna be put in the bullpen anyways and he is more expensive than Julio. I don't mind this trade at all.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Gonzalez, Nippert, or Jarvis gets to warm the bench while we work on Dontrelle! I really don't know what Florida is waiting for? Not like they are in playoff contention, and Willis can bring them some tools to build on now. They could get guys into their system earlier.

Maybe, but the question is: do you cut off your nose inspite your face? Yes, the Marlins have incredible gluttonry of young arms, however none of them are established and could just as soon washout as they could hit it big. When you consider the return they got for Josh Beckett, you can imagine that they're going to ask at least that much for Willis.

Although they're "asking" for Drew and Upton, I'd be willing to wager my next year of money that neither of them will be going to Miami. First off, if Drew is going to remain at Short, and Hanley Ramirez being as good as advertised so far, you can pretty much count Drew out.

Unlike Drew, Upton WOULD fill a long term need at CF, but there's no way in hell Arizona trades Upton.. Not with the hassle they went through signing the guy. Bet your ass Beinifest has asked, and has been rejected every time.

Quentin and Young both seem like realistic possibilities, however I imagine Byrnes has told Beinifest and the Marlins they can have one or the other, not both.

Something's gonna happen soon. Maybe it's a deal for Willis, maybe not but I have a real hunch Arizona's gonna be landing another quality starter very soon.

 

[AZZenny]

Yes, I trust Josh Byrnes too -- Actually, watching the product on the field recently, and given that he's been mainly digging his way out of a huge hole and may be for another year, I'm incredibly impressed. Nothing flashy -- smallish or low-radar moves, and he's assembled a hustling team with pretty good balance, all things considered. We have to assume the thing he's studying mostly is young, not-too-expensive (thenkyew Ortiz!) starting pitching.

I am SURE we won't see Upton go anywhere, and I'd be very surprised to see Drew go. Seeing how well Conor is working out, I sure would like to see us keep CQ. (After all, I was about the only person on Earth who consistently rated Conor ahead of Carlos Quentin.)

Valverde has been fine, for the most part -- 1.25 WHIP, 13 saves in 18 games, only 1 Loss. He has a substantially harder time against lefty batters, but this move doesn't do anything to help with that.

Grace just suggested Jarvis may go into the rotation.

 

[devilfan02]

Maybe, but the question is: do you cut off your nose inspite your face? Yes, the Marlins have incredible gluttonry of young arms, however none of them are established and could just as soon washout as they could hit it big. When you consider the return they got for Josh Beckett, you can imagine that they're going to ask at least that much for Willis.

Although they're "asking" for Drew and Upton, I'd be willing to wager my next year of money that neither of them will be going to Miami. First off, if Drew is going to remain at Short, and Hanley Ramirez being as good as advertised so far, you can pretty much count Drew out.

Unlike Drew, Upton WOULD fill a long term need at CF, but there's no way in hell Arizona trades Upton.. Not with the hassle they went through signing the guy. Bet your ass Beinifest has asked, and has been rejected every time.

Quentin and Young both seem like realistic possibilities, however I imagine Byrnes has told Beinifest and the Marlins they can have one or the other, not both.

Something's gonna happen soon. Maybe it's a deal for Willis, maybe not but I have a real hunch Arizona's gonna be landing another quality starter very soon.

Couldn't agree more... No way in hell we trade the #1 pick of last years draft for anyone. Q will have to go, which I'm fine with, and hopefully they would take Young as opposed to Drew/Upton. We'd have to throw in a pitching prospect but not sure who that would be. Maybe they would take Julio as opposed to a pitching prospect considering their loaded with young arms

 

[devilfan02]

The other thing with Byrnes is that all the moves he has been making are working on the field and saving tons of money. We will have a boatload of money to get starting pitching and maybe a power bat. Word is getting around that Mulder and the Dbacks are mutually interested and that he wants to wait for FA to let us bid for him. He lives here and is a member at Whisper Rock GC where he spends his entire offseason. Can't wait to see him a Dback

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Julio will have much more value at the deadline (former serviceable closer, 95+ fastball) than an 80 year old broken down El Duque will.

 

[devilfan02]

Julio will have much more value at the deadline (former serviceable closer, 95+ fastball) than an 80 year old broken down El Duque will.

Exactly. Couple that with the fact that the Malrins are in need of a closer and we could have a deal. IMO, El Duque belongs in the bullpen cause he can't last past 4 innings. Byrnes is setting the Willis trade up

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Well, as just about everybody else has pointed out, this trade on the surface doesnt appear to make a whole lot of sense for Arizona standing alone. Why would the Dbacks trade a mediocre starter for a mediocre reliever when by and large the relievers have done an excellent job and the team is desperate for starters? Obviously, this really does make you wonder about whats going on with the Marlins and Willis. There sure has been a lot of chatter (with lots of specifics) surrounding a guy thats supposedly untradable. If there are indeed trade talks and that they are further along than the public is led to believe, then its possible that the Marlins are asking for one of the Dbacks top relievers (such as Lyon or even Valverde) and Julio was aquired to make up for their soon-to-be absence. If they were to trade Willis, the Marlins certainly would be interested in guys like Lyon or Valverde, considering they are young, cheap, and have shown they can be effective closers in the bigs. Guys like that dont exactly grow on trees, and can go a long way towards shoring up a messy bullpen, both now and more importantly (for the Marlins) in the future as well.

Is trading Quentin or Young (whichever Florida prefers) along with Snyder (or Montero if thats who they prefer) and Valverde worth Willis? That seems like an extremely steep price, but we are talking about one of the best young pitchers in the game today here. Willis isnt going to be cheap, it takes talent to get talent. And any time you are dealing with prospects of this caliber, theres a chance that you can get burned - badly. But, you arent going to get a guy like Willis by trading just spare parts.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Think of the potential of a rotation with Webb, Mulder and Willis, none of whom have reached their proverbial primes, all in Diamondback Unis.

That's nightmarish to even consider, I'll even go a step further and say that rotation would easily rival the one they won the World Series with.

Only problem with that dream becoming a reality is the team Mulder currently plays for. If he were still in Oakland, I'd say Arizona's chances of signing him are as good as anyones, however we know the Cardinals have shown willingness to shell out the cash in the past, and I don't see them letting their ace go without throwing up a financial windfall.

As for the topic at hand, Yotes I'd give up Q/Young, Julio and Montero for Willis in a heartbeat. I truthfully think, with as hard up for a CF as the Marlins are, they MAY wind up asking for Young.

I actually could see them biting on a Young, Hairston (who incidentally is absolutely killing the ball in Tucson), Julio and Montero for Willis deal. Call me crazy, but I think that's entirely realistic.