Josh Byrnes Trade Profile
Diamondbacks General Manager Josh Byrnes has made 13 trades since taking over in October of 2005. You can Download arizona_diamondbacks_byrnes.xls to see all the moves. The jury is still out on many of them, but he’s done a first-class job in my opinion.
His first deal was to send a couple of relievers to the Braves for catcher Johnny Estrada in December of 2005. Estrada had a respectable, resurgent year for the Diamondbacks in ’06, but Oscar Villarreal gave the Braves 90 solid innings. Lance Cormier was less impressive but may earn a rotation spot this year once healthy. John Schuerholz may have won this one, slightly. Estrada was one of many players that Byrnes traded for and then traded away the following year.
A few weeks later Byrnes made an excellent trade, nabbing El Duque, Luis Vizcaino, and Chris Young from the White Sox for Javier Vazquez. It was a move that may sting the White Sox, as Young appears on the path to stardom as the Diamondbacks’ center fielder. Hindsight is 20/20 – I loved the move for the White Sox at the time and a couple of strong seasons from Vazquez would make it completely worth the price. We may be able to say that both teams benefitted here. Kenny Williams won a smaller deal a few months later in acquiring Alex Cintron.
Byrnes’s third deal that month was to acquire Miguel Batista and Orlando Hudson for Troy Glaus and a prospect. I think he beat J.P. Ricciardi here, as Batista was a credible back-rotation starter and Hudson blossomed into one of the game’s better 2Bs. Some stats say that Hudson had a significantly better 2006 than Glaus, positions considered.
Byrnes made two more very strong deals before the ’06 season began, netting Alberto Callaspo and Juan Cruz without giving up much. The Callaspo trade was particularly egregious for Bill Stoneman, who only got Jason Bulger in return. Callaspo could start at second for many teams.
In May of ’06 Byrnes acquired Jorge Julio from the Mets for Orlando Hernandez. El Duque was slightly more useful that year, but spinning Julio into Yusmeiro Petit last month was masterful.
Byrnes unloaded Shawn Green last August, getting him to waive his no-trade clause. The D’Backs had to eat half of Green’s contract to get Evan MacLane, a soft-tossing southpaw prospect. The move cleared a path for Carlos Quentin. It wasn’t an impressive bounty but Green obviously had to go. The other August trade was the acquisition of Livan Hernandez for Garrett Mock and Matt Chico. It’s still unknown as to whether Hernandez can replicate his ’06 Arizona success. With the price of pitching as it is it’s an OK deal.
This offseason, Byrnes revamped his rotation by trading for southpaws Randy Johnson and Doug Davis. I love the Johnson trade and like the Davis trade for Arizona. I just don’t think any of the players sent away (Estrada, Greg Aquino, Claudio Vargas, Vizcaino, and prospects) will be missed by the Diamondbacks. Dana Eveland was the icing on the cake; he’ll make a decent back-rotation guy one day.
In case you hadn’t noticed, I really like Byrnes’s trading strategies. He’s snagged some very promising young players for unwanted/expensive veterans and has never given up his best prospects. If I were a Diamondbacks fan I’d have faith in Byrnes to swing a smart deal for a scary-monster type hitter this July if the D’Backs are in the thick of the race.
Marlins Acquire Jorge Julio
According to Baseball Digest Daily, the Diamondbacks traded reliever Jorge Julio and cash to the Marlins for Yusmeiro Petit today. Fantasy leaguers, get on it. The team confirmed that he’ll slide right into the closer role.
Pretty good return for Arizona; Petit was the main piece in the Carlos Delgado trade last winter. Petit put up some excellent numbers in Double A in ’05 but scouts weren’t enamored with his stuff. Sure enough, his deception wasn’t enough at Triple A last year and his strikeout rate dropped significantly.
Latest On Jorge Julio
Ken Rosenthal has a new column up. Well, actually it went up 12 hours ago. If it’s whispered, (or just written on FOXSports.com), we hear it (once we wake up, eat some Arby’s, and get situated).
Ken’s main rumor:
The current suitors for the relief ace known as Jorge Julio are the Cardinals and Marlins, with the Bucs and D-Rays on the fringes. For the sake of my Al Reyes sleeper pick let’s keep him out of Tampa Bay. I think the Cardinals could really use a guy like Julio. The acquiring team will be on the hook for all $3.6MM, unless they pony up a top-notch prospect. The Marlins get special treatment I guess.
Rays Interested In Jorge Julio
You can add another Florida team to the mix for Arizona reliever Jorge Julio – the Devil Rays. Ken Rosenthal updated this article with the rumor.
Rosenthal adds that Julio is not Tampa Bay’s first option, and that the goal could be to flip him for prospects. Makes me wonder if they might try something similar with Al Reyes given the current market for relievers.
The Marlins, Cardinals, and Giants have expressed interest in Julio in the past.
Hat tip to DRays Bay for passing it along.
Yankees Won’t Renegotiate With A-Rod
In case you missed Jon Heyman’s scoop yesterday: Brian Cashman won’t renegotiate Alex Rodriguez‘s contract after this season. I imagine he went public with it in attempt to put the onus back on A-Rod when he leaves after the season. For once, Rodriguez is not biting and won’t discuss it further with the media. Heyman reiterates that Rodriguez will not consent to a trade if the Yankees are in contention. Other notes from the column:
- Out of all the relievers on the market, Jorge Julio seems the most likely to be dealt.
- Heyman thinks John Smoltz is done with team-friendly contracts and will leave the Braves after 2007. Could the Red Sox replace Curt Schilling with him?
- Devil Rays "second baseman" Jorge Cantu is on the block. I think he has been for some time. I believe there is a federal law mandating mention of his 117 RBI season in any Cantu trade rumor. Ooh boy, look at all those ribbies! Perhaps the Rays would shift Akinori Iwamura or B.J. Upton to second base. In any case, I don’t think Cantu is part of the long-term plan.
Marlins Lean Toward Benitez Over Julio
The Marlins are still very much interested in acquiring Armando Benitez or Jorge Julio to front their bullpen, according to MLB.com.
A Benitez deal is more likely because apparently the Giants will pick up most of Benitez’s contract. Julio makes $3.6MM to Benitez’s $7.6MM, but the D’Backs may not want to chip in at all.
Can the Marlins continue their string of resurrected closers? The parade includes Joe Borowski, Todd Jones, and Benitez. They’ve also had twenty save seasons this decade from Braden Looper, Vladimir Nunez, and Antonio Alfonseca.
The Marlins are still very
The Marlins are still very much interested in acquiring Armando Benitez or Jorge Julio to front their bullpen, according to MLB.com.
A Benitez deal is more likely because apparently the Giants will pick up most of Benitez’s contract. Julio makes $3.6MM to Benitez’s $7.6MM, but the D’Backs may not want to chip in at all.
Can the Marlins continue their string of resurrected closers? The parade includes Joe Borowski, Todd Jones, and Benitez. They’ve also had twenty save seasons this decade from Braden Looper, Vladimir Nunez, and Antonio Alfonseca.
Latest On Jorge Julio
The latest word on $3.6MM reliever Jorge Julio is that the Diamondbacks don’t intend to pick up any of his salary. Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel speculates that the Marlins are showing public interest in Julio "as a way of forcing the Giants’ hand in an Armando Benitez deal." The Giants countered by inquiring on Julio as well.
Rodriguez also mentions that the Marlins and Larry Beinfest have some past history of trading or attempting to trade for Julio.
Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post says the Giants would pay more of the $3.6MM than the Marlins, but the D’Backs covet Florida’s Yusmeiro Petit.
From the Arizona side, Nick Piecoro writes that more teams than just the Giants and Marlins are interested. He believes Julio will start the season with Arizona, though.
That there is this much action on a guy who hasn’t had an impressive season since 2002 just shows how desperate teams are for relief help.
Marlins Interested In Jorge Julio
In a move that has serious implications for fantasy geeks everywhere, the Marlins sent a scout yesterday to watch Diamondbacks reliever Jorge Julio pitch. As you know, the Fish have an unsettled closer situation with Kevin Gregg, Matt Lindstrom, Henry Owens, and Taylor Tankersley candidates to earn the gig when the season begins.
Among pitchers with 60 IP last year, Julio’s 12.0 K/9 ranked fifth, right between Takashi Saito and Francisco Rodriguez. If Marlins pitching coach Rick Kranitz could help Julio get his BB/9 down around 3, he could be quite an asset. Pitching in Dolphin Stadium as opposed to Chase Field would cut down on his troublesome HR rate.
The main sticking point would be figuring out how to divy up Julio’s $3.6MM salary. Julio would be the third highest-paid Marlin behind Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis.
UPDATE: The Giants are now in on Julio, who is essentially a younger version of Armando Benitez. The Giants would take on more of Julio’s salary than the Marlins, but parting with Yusmeiro Petit might seal the deal for Florida. And to think, Petit was traded for Carlos Delgado a year ago.
Marlins Trade Rumors
The Fish might do some minor dealing in the coming days. Let’s see what they have cooking.
For one, Mike Berardino of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel thinks they should bring Armando Benitez back, now that he’s healthy. He says it would probably only cost the Marlins a million bucks in addition to the player(s) they trade. Benitez says he hasn’t been in shape like he is now since he played for the Orioles.
The Marlins may have their eye on a couple of Red Sox: center fielder David Murphy and pitcher Kyle Snyder. The Nationals also have interest in Snyder. Snyder, 29, hails from Florida for what that’s worth. He can probably post an ERA below 5 in the NL, so he belongs on someone’s roster. Murphy still has a chance to become a credible CF, especially if his new build adds a little power. Houston also likes Murphy.
Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post has another tidbit: though the Marlins scouted Jorge Julio, they’re not close to proposing a deal.
Finally, the Marlins have no interest in Javy Lopez but are drawing interest for outfielder Cody Ross.