SB Nation - Jeremy Hermida

Is Jeremy Hermida on the Move?

Ben Buchanan — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:09:14 -0000

More photos » by Lenny Ignelzi - AP

4 months ago: Florida Marlins' Jeremy Hermida watches his sacrifice fly to left field that scored Emilio Bonifacio from third in the fifth inning in a baseball game Tuesday, July 21, 2009, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

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Jeremy Hermida might be gone before playing a single game in a Red Sox uniform.

WEEI's Alex Speier reported that when the Red Sox traded for Hermida, they mentioned they were likely to trade him if they were to re-sign Jason Bay. While they will almost certainly not do that, the Cameron signing may well have created the same situation. Cameron is unlikely to be a platoon player, and Hermida's splits are not strong enough to warrant giving him time in the field over Cameron. And at a cost of $3 million, Hermida is an odd choice for a defenseless 4th outfielder.

Hermida will not bring a significant bounty, but there are teams that could use a young outfielder with potential. If the Sox do trade Hermida, they would likely have to look at free agency to replace him, as they will want to get Josh Reddick and eventually Ryan Kalish plenty of at bats in AAA. Darnell McDonald could also serve as a warm body in Fenway to avoid getting caught unaware in case of a sudden injury, but he's not good enough to slot in on any given day. A more ideal solution might be to sign a guy like Jerry Hairston Jr. While he's just as bad offensively, he would bring defensive versatility to the Sox' bench at an affordable price.

John Lackey's Signing: The Potential Ripple Effect

ltrain2 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:38:24 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

Is Adrian Gonzalez, pictured here, the next big name acquisition to be announced by the Boston Red Sox following the recent signing of free agent pitcher John Lackey?

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In what can surely be considered an understatement; the Red Sox's recent off-season activity has the Major League Baseball community buzzing, namely the population that makes up 'Red Sox Nation.'

On Monday, following reports that discussions surrounding re-signing Jason Bay had soured, the Red Sox proceeded to sign the top available starting pitcher via free agency, John Lackey, to a 5-year deal. The arrival of the former Angels' ace in Boston has been dissected in a bevy of ways since news broke earlier today by nearly every media outlet, each offering their own unique opinion on the situation. Some suggest that Lackey represents a reallocation of the funds originally intended for Bay. However, I don't believe that there is enough emphasis being placed on the big picture as a result of the acquisition, and the subsequent sequence of events that may potentially follow.

While some may argue that because Jason Bay is no longer an option, the Red Sox may have simply taken their money and invested in another big ticket free agent instead. If that were the case, wouldn't it have been more intelligent to focus on someone like Matt Holliday or Adrian Beltre to help fill the holes that Boston has both defensively and offensively, rather than acquire a starting pitcher? While there's no denying that the depth in regards to the starting rotation was a point of emphasis for management heading into the off-season, it seems rather narrow-minded to use such a large sum of financial resources to fill that void while continuing to ignore the ones at third base and left field.

Is it possible that Mike Cameron is set to be Jason Bay's replacement, especially given the defensive upgrade he represents, and that they simply used the money that they saved by not going after Matt Holliday on the combination of Cameron and Lackey? Sure, it's not a farfetched theory by any means. However, after much deliberation on the topic, I have come to the conclusion that there may be more to the Red Sox's recent acquisitions than what is evident on the surface.

One piece of information that slipped through the cracks today, which is understandable given the more notable moves made, is that the Red Sox made a two year contract offer reportedly worth $15 million dollars to left-handed Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman. Chapman, a 21 year-old starting pitcher with a fastball that consistently touches triple-digits, could offer a bit of foreshadowing into the Red Sox's plan of action in relation to their void at third base.

The $80-85 million dollar contract awarded to Lackey is what originally made me look into the potential reasoning behind extending $15 million to Chapman who, like Lackey, is a starting pitcher. No, Chapman would not likely be added to the MLB-level rotation come opening day, but there are still some flags being raised by Boston's pursuit of the young talent. Why continue attempting to accrue starting pitching depth with a hole still evident at not only the third base position, but in the lineup as well?

Consider this; the addition of Lackey now gives Boston six viable options for their rotation, as it stands now, heading into 2010. With Beckett, Lester, Lackey, Matsuzaka, Buchholz, and Wakefield, a once seemingly questionable rotation has become more than formidable, arguably the best in baseball. Where does extending a $15 million dollar contract to a young, unproven, prospect-type pitcher make sense given the Red Sox's glaring needs elsewhere?

It would not only make sense, but it would actually appear rather brilliant in its creativeness, if the plan of action was to turn around and begin shopping the attractive young talent that is Clay Buchholz. Buchholz, known for his devastating arsenal of off-speed pitches as well as his limitless potential, seemingly finds himself immersed in nearly every trade discussion involving the Red Sox the last few years. So why stop now?

One reason that Theo Epstein has been reluctant to move Buchholz to this point is that it is difficult to find a young starting pitcher with that much potential without having to develop internally, as they did with Clay. This is where Aroldis Chapman becomes relevant to this discussion.

Matt Holliday had been the center of rumors regarding the Red Sox's planned route in the event that Bay could not be retained. However, recent reports (especially coming from Holliday's agent, Scott Boras) suggest that signing Holliday would require a deal exceeding that in which Jason Bay is commanding at the present time. Boras has been rather vocal in his opinion that Holliday is a more valuable asset than Bay to an interested team. Having said that, and assuming that Adrian Beltre is now out of this off-season's budget limit, it's hard to imagine that the Red Sox are left with many options to plug third base via free agency. It's also safe to assume that management is left unsatisfied with Cameron replacing Bay if it means that someone like Casey Kotchman is going to take over the first base duties, with Youkilis moving to third base in this scenario (also making the assumption that moving Varitek back behind the plate full-time, while shifting Youkilis to third and Victor Martinez to first, is not a realistic option).

All of this leads me to believe that the Red Sox next plan of action is to begin gauging interest from teams regarding the aforementioned Clay Buchholz.

With the potential signing of Aroldis Chapman, moving Clay Buchholz could become more justifiable to the Red Sox. Essentially, the Chapman signing may simply be a case of replacing one young pitching prospect with another, allowing Boston to utilize Buchholz's trade-appeal and acquire the corner infield-bat that they so desperately need.

San Diego could potentially be a player in any discussion pertaining to Buchholz. The Red Sox have discussed the availability of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez with the Padres recently, but to no avail, citing Boston's hesitation to move Buchholz as a main reason. Reports, prior to the Lackey signing, made it appear as though no progress was being made on that front. Padres general manager Jed Hoyer reportedly requested a combination of Buchholz and either Casey Kelly (a pitching prospect widely considered untouchable in such discussions) or outfielder Ryan Westmoreland.

One interesting aspect of negotiations is that Jason McLeod, a former Red Sox scouting director, is now employed by Hoyer. It has been said that both have a detailed understanding and admiration of the Boston system.

While the Red Sox still expected to retain Jason Bay, it was understandable for Epstein to be adverse to the idea of unloading Buchholz, especially given his opinion that the rotation (even with Buchholz) lacked depth. Also, because Bay was still an option at that point, the need for an offensive upgrade was slightly less glaring. With Bay and Holliday now out of the mix, and the potential signings of both Lackey and Chapman, the attention has to be redirected back to the original need for offense at one of the corner infield spots left vacant by Mike Lowell's departure (still pending). A platoon of Mike Cameron and Jeremy Hermida is probably not the caliber of replacement in left field that Boston entered the off-season with in mind, but acquiring someone such as Adrian Gonzalez would have to help alleviate any concerns regarding offensive potency that may still linger.

As I implied earlier, San Diego is very interested in Clay Buchholz, even going as far as insisting his presence in any potential package offered by Boston. If Chapman is signed, Buchholz immediately becomes more expendable, and Gonzalez that much more appealing. Boston's interest in Chapman has been evident for some time, is it possible now that his addition could represent the subtraction of Buchholz? Clay's availability has to increase exponentially in the event that the Red Sox land Chapman.

It is starting to appear as though Theo Epstein has been underestimated in his approach this off-season all along. His lack of activity seems to have directly corresponded with the progress made in re-signing Bay. As soon as the discussions began to break down, Theo started making moves. My feeling is that he has had this plan in his back pocket the whole time he was in talks with Bay and his representatives, and is only now beginning to deploy it.

One fact remains certain, Boston's needs a power-hitter to compliment their lineup following the departure of Jason Bay. With Cameron and Hermida joining J.D. Drew and Jacoby Ellsbury, completing a respectable core of outfielders, the most obvious place to fill that void remains at one of the corner infield spots.

It's hard to imagine a better solution than someone like Adrian Gonzalez.

MLB Trade Rumors: Josh Johnson for Justin Smoak and Neftali Perez??

raygu — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:00:23 -0000

by Wilfredo Lee - AP

2 months ago: Florida Marlins starter Josh Johnson winds up as he delivers a pitch during the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia PhilliesTuesday, Sept. 22, 2009 in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

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I was surprised to read that the Texas Rangers offered their two best prospects, Justin Smoak and Neftali Perez for the Marlins ace pitcher Josh Johnson. I am not sure any other team could top that offer of prospects for 2 years of JJ.

Here is what ESPN's Keith Law had to say on the offer:

"As good as Johnson is, that seems like too much to offer given the remaining years of control and the fact that Smoak and Feliz are two of the top 10 prospects in the game and two players Texas' front office prizes very highly. Smoak is a switch-hitting first baseman with patience & power from both sides, and Feliz has already shown what he can do in relief with a chance that he can still start due to his easy velocity."

The Marlins are in a semi-rebuilding mode after dealing Jeremy Hermida, and on the verge of dealing second baseman Dan Uggla. I say semi-rebuilding because they are a young team that is about to get younger once prospects Logan Morrison and Michael Stanton make it to the big league club in the next year or so.

I can't see why they rejected the Rangers solid offer. Should they have pulled the trigger on that deal, they could feature a lineup in 2010-2011 as follows:

Logan Morrison-LF

Michael Stanton-RF

Justin Smoak-1B

This team would be tough to beat on paper come 2011. If the Marlins feel they can compete in 2010, then you have to keep Josh Johnson. But, come July 31st and they are 10 games out, they should re-kindle these talks.

Poll

Should the Marlins have pulled the trigger on the Rangers offer?

MLB Trade Rumors: Josh Johnson to be Traded??

raygu — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:00:21 -0000

by Luis Alvarez - AP

3 months ago: Florida Marlins' Josh Johnson pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

View full size photo »

This past weekend, MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reported that the Marlins and the agent for starting pitcher Josh Johnson have reached an impasse in their contract negotiations. It appears the Marlins were looking to lockup Johnson and buyout Johnson's final two arbitration years. But Johnson's agent Matt Sosnick is looking for big money. So both sides have agreed to move on.

Here is what Frisaro wrote:

Without getting into specific dollar figures, Sosnick said the Marlins offered three years with a club option for a fourth.

Johnson's camp was hoping the deal would at least match what Kansas City's Zack Greinke signed before the 2009 season. The Royals' ace, recently named the American League Cy Young Award winner, signed for four years at $38 million.

Sosnick goes on to say the following about Johnson's future in Florida:

Sosnick feels 2010 will be Johnson's last with the Marlins, if the team wants to maximize his trade value. Since the Marlins aren't revealing their intentions, that is purely speculation.

In the past, the Marlins retained pitchers A.J. Burnett and Carl Pavano in their final arbitration years, and then received Draft pick compensation when both opted for free agency. On the flip side, Josh Beckett, Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera were dealt before their final years of arbitration.

"We disagreed on the years, which is fair," Sosnick said. "As far as our feelings are concerned, and I feel very strongly that this is true, that Josh either signs a long-term deal now with the Marlins, which is not going to happen, or he gets traded after this year and the Marlins can get some value back.

This tells me the Marlins won't be listening to too many offers for starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco anytime soon. With Johnson reaching free agency in 2011, dealing outfielder Jeremy Hermida to Boston in early November, and the fact that the Marlins are looking to deal second baseman Dan Uggla, the team will be in a bit of a rebuilding stage in 2010 and 2011.

It is way too early to speculate on what teams will be interested in Johnson, but there will certainly be a long line of suitors including the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, Cubs among many others. The Marlins will be smart to see what the Indians got for Cliff Lee with a year and a half left on his contract and start listening to offers come the July 2010 trade deadline.

I am sure Larry Beinfest will not waste this opportunity like J.P. Ricciardi did with Roy Halladay last July.

Poll

Will the Marlins be smart and deal Josh Johnson in July 2010 to maximize their return?

Yes, Beinfest is one of the best GMs in the business.

114 votes

No, the Marlins will be in the wildcard hunt and not be able to trade JJ.

64 votes

178 votes | Poll has closed

MLB Trade Rumors: Dan Uggla to the Dodgers??

raygu — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:00:36 -0000

More photos » by Gregory Smith - AP

2 months ago: Florida Marlins' Dan Uggla connects with a solo home run against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, at Turner Field in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Gregory Smith)

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I caught some of the XM Radio Baseball show yesterday afternoon with Casey Stern and Kevin Kennedy. They were talking about some of the free agents available, and Stern mentioned that he thought Placido Polanco would be a perfect fit in LA.

Kennedy chimed in and said he heard that the Dodgers were interested in trading for the Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla. Now, Kennedy worked for the Dodgers for a number of years managing in their farm system, and he still works in the LA area, so this deal would not surprise me.

Actually, I thought he would be a perfect fit once I heard the Marlins were looking to deal him. The Dodgers lineup, with the exception of their outfield, is lacking HR power. Uggla is a perfect match for the Dodgers as they need a second baseman and they need another power hitter.

Uggla went 31-90-.243-.354-.459-.813 in 2009. He increased his BB% from 12.7% to 14% and lowered his K% from 32.2% to 26.6% in 2009. His BABIP of .277 in 2009 was below his career BABIP of .297, so there is room for a little better average in 2010, and Uggla has increased his walk totals in each of the past 4 seasons (48-69-77-92).

What would the Dodgers have to give up for Uggla? Well, the Red Sox just gave up two pitching prospects I have never heard of for Jeremy Hermida. But since Uggla has more value than Hermida, I guess the Dodgers would have to give up a pitching prospect like Scott Elbert. With the emergence of Chris Withrow, Ethan Martin and Aaron Miller, I have to think that Elbert could be expendable.

Poll

Should the Dodgers deal for Dan Uggla or go after someone with a better glove and higher average?

Deal for Uggla

361 votes

Go after Polanco or trade for Alberto Callaspo in KC

102 votes

463 votes | Poll has closed

11/5,6,7 - Curfews,Catching Up, and Traveling

bs.uf15bosox9bears23 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:00:20 -0000

Sorry about the lack of posts for the past few days - apparently, parents don't like realizing that they've raised an insomniac. Posts might be a little further spaced out, but with more links in each edition, depending on how much I can get done before I literally lose my Internet connection on school nights. Hey, that's what you get when a teenager is your news aggregator. Now, with that out of the way, here's the first set of links:

Does Boston's Trade for Jeremy Hermida Mean the End for Jason Bay in Beantown? - Bleacher Report

Though Hermida is by no means a middle-of-the-order slugger, this could very well signal the end of Jason Bay's tenure in Boston. Bay recently shot down a four-year, $60 million offer from the Sox, and his worth will only increase as the offseason wears on.

Among other reasons why Bay might not be returning, but if this sticks out to someone as a red flag of sorts, we'll have to see if they're right.

Marlins Trade Jeremy Hermida To Red Sox: A Sign of Things To Come - Bleacher Report

Due to the economy, these are the types of trades you are going to see this winter. Teams who can’t afford to wait on young players or can’t afford a player’s salary will be forced to trade them to teams who can.

Lots of different spins on this whole deal. Of course, Hermida was also part of another trade the Sox were involved in, or at least an attempt at one:

Let the Offseason Begin: Boston Red Sox Steal Hermida from Florida Marlins - Bleacher Report

That proposal didn’t gain any traction, and Hermida stayed with the Marlins, but despite missing out on his services, Boston remained infatuated with him and his potential, hoping he would someday be part of their quest for a World Series championship.

Totally forgot about the Manny-Marlins rumor. Although, now I do remember seeing a mockup of what Manny would look like in "fishstripes" on a Marlins' broadcast (don't remember why I was watching that). It was amazing how quickly they jumped on that rumor.

Jeremy Hermida: Bust Or Breakout - Bleacher Report

Seems to be more common view of the trade.

Yeah, I know, not much variety so far; it is interesting to see the variety of opinions available from relatively unconnected authors, as opposed to here, where the discussions can help figure out how we should feel about certain issues. After the jump, some more "independent" writing, an important discovery from YWA, and more general Hot Stove linkage.

4 Moves The Boston Red Sox Have To Make to Win The World Series In 2010 - Bleacher Report

After a quick exit from the MLB playoffs i quickly started to think, what could they do to get better? After a few weeks of research and asking my self questions i have come up with four moves they Red Sox must confront this off season if they want to win the 2010 World Series

BOW TO THE KNOWLEDGEABLE ONE. If you can make it past the sub-par writing quality (if you're reading this, than you probably can), have fun laughing at how many players are apparently good-for-nothing busts.

Rebuilding A Nation: BoSox in 2010 - Bleacher Report

If Theo has someone dedicated to researching the general public opinion of Red Sox Nation (hopefully not just looking at polls by the commercialized club), he probably gets a good laugh from some of the If-I-was-the-GM type articles.

Ranking the World Series Champions in the 2000s - Bleacher Report

Not sure what they're ranking them by.

Trade Market: Right Fielders - MLBTradeRumors.com

Market awareness link - also an opportunity to search for JD's safety net.

Free Agent Friday: First Base 2010 - Beyond the Box Score

Again, not that we're interested, but it's a good idea of what's available.

2010 Red Sox Preview: First Base - Yawkey Way Academy

See? Probably not going to need to be looking at the Free Agents here.

Report: Red Sox Interested in Cuban First Baseman - NESN.com

Although the younger prospects are always worth looking into.

Theo’s "95-Win Team", Beckett’s Extension, Falling Dominoes, and the Mailbag - Fire Brand of the AL

In recent years, one of the most important axioms put forth by the Theo Epstein and the Red Sox front office is the law of the "95-Win Team". According to this directive, the team’s goal is to target 95-wins annually in an effort to compete every season. This is really a great piece of wisdom, as a team that wins 95 games will make the playoffs most years. In fact, the Wild Card winner since 2003 – the first year Theo took the esteemed office of Red Sox General Manger – has averaged a record of just about 95-67.

Theo Epstein can’t just wait ’til next year - BostonHerald.com

Apparently - jumped on Hermida on the first day. Of course, there seems to be a lot of activity happening really early this year.

Umpire Strike Zone Analysis - The Basics and Batter Handedness - Beyond the Box Score

2009 World Series: Philadelphia Phillies' Pedro Martinez exits in a hurry - ESPN

Pedro Martinez's outing in Game 6 of the World Series was brief, as was his bizarre session with reporters after he tried to bolt the Phillies' clubhouse without speaking to the media.

All you can do is wear it - Extra Bases

Revisiting 2009: Did we get what we expected? - Fire Brand of the AL

Which catcher would you least like to see go on free agency? - Fire Brand of the American League

Umm... duh. Seems like the question was supposed to be more mind-blowing than it is, but somehow the effect got lost in transcribing it.

Not cuckoo for Coco - Extra Bases

Unless he's really cheap - could help if Ells is still having issues this season. Not sure he's worth the roster spot though...

With Earlier Offseason Regimen, David Ortiz Expects to Slug Away in 2010 - NESN.com

Learning to Pitch with Josh Beckett - Yawkey Way Academy

Haven't seen this info anywhere else - Beckett's becoming a pitcher rather than a thrower with a curve. If he can figure it all out this year, he'd be a lot better prepared for his post-peak years, which should be starting with his next contract.

Hideki Okajima is a Key Part of Red Sox' 2010 Puzzle - NESN.com

Green to have surgery - Full Count

SS = surgically sidelined, apparently.

Ten players the Sox could pursue - Boston.com

Not a lot of surprising names, but there are a few new ideas.

New Elias: Harden, Beltre Type B’s; Figgins an A, so’s Billy Wagner - Clubhouse Insider

A: Figgins, Wagner, Bay (tied Markickass for best AL outfielder - hint at how primitive their evaluation statistics are)

B: Harden, Beltre, Tek, Zaun

Unranked: Gonzo (muhahaha)

Comments, links, ideas on how to convince my parents that it's not harmful for me to write for OTM (I've tried describing it as a critical thinking exercise and a brain after-exercise-stretch), etc. Oh, and I'll be traveling on a five-day weekend, so I might be absent for a day or two. I'm sure one of the editors wouldn't mind bumping a links Fanpost up if anyone finds a bunch of really good links.

MLB Trade Rumors: Jeremy Hermida Traded to the Red Sox

raygu — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:30:24 -0000

More photos » by Lenny Ignelzi - AP

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The Florida Marlins are going through their second year of trading arbitration eligible players this offseason, and they started by shipping outfielder Jeremy Hermida to the Red Sox for two minor league pitchers I have never heard of. I am sure you all know that Hermida was once the top prospect in baseball, but he is one of the many who have never lived up to their potential for various reasons.

This deal benefits owners of Cameron Maybin. Here is what Joe Frisaro from MLB.com had to say after dealing Hermida:

Florida expects to bring back Cody Ross, who also is eligible for arbitration, to play right field. The team's outfield projects to be Chris Coghlan in left field, Cameron Maybin in center and Ross in right. Coghlan, however, may wind up at second base. There is a strong likelihood that Dan Uggla will be traded.

If Coghlan moves back to the infield, the Marlins have several outfield prospects, including Scott Cousins and Mike Stanton.

"If Maybin slides into center field, Cody can play right," Beinfest said. "Stanton and Cousins are on their way. We thought we were dealing from an area of depth. And also, within our payroll, our allocations need to be in the best place to be most competitive. Obviously, [Hermida] is a second-time arbitration player."

Cousins and Stanton both finished the 2009 season in AA Jacksonville. Cousins hit .268 with 12 HRs, 74 RBI and 27 SBs in 130 games. Stanton went 16-53-.231-.311-.455 in 299 ABs for Jacksonville. But don't forget about AA outfielder Bryan Peterson who is currently hitting very well in the Arizona Fall League. Peterson went 7-49-13-.297-.368-.413 in 2009.

But, where does Hermida play in Boston? They have JD Drew in right field and Jacoby Ellsbury in centerfield. Could Hermida be the starting left-fielder in Boston in 2010?

Poll

What are the chances Jeremy Hermida starts in Boston in 2010?

zero

49 votes

0-25%

78 votes

25-50%

45 votes

> 50%

44 votes

216 votes | Poll has closed

Red Sox Acquire Jeremy Hermida

Tommy Bennett — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:56:08 -0000

More photos » by Tom Mihalek - AP

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The Red Sox have acquired outfielder and former first-round pick (11th overall) Jeremy Hermida from the Florida Marlins. In return, the Marlins will receive two minor league southpaws: Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez.

Hermida has frustrated Marlins fans during his four full seasons in South Florida. Take a look at his WAR totals for each of his years in the major league, including his 2005 cup of coffee:

Year	WAR
2005	0.6
2006	-0.7
2007	2.7
2008	0.1
2009	0.3

Aside from his strong 2007, Hermida is only slightly above replacement level. He is certainly a below-average corner outfielder. What did the Red Sox give up to acquire such a dubious asset?

Hunter Jones is the more advanced of the two prospects, and will likely compete for a bullpen job in the spring. He will be 26 years old next season. According to MinorLeagueSplits.com, Jones had an equivalent FIP of 5.72 this past season in 53 innings out of the bullpen at Triple-A Pawtucket. He walked 4.1 batters per nine innings and struck out just 6.6 per nine. He is a lefty, and the results from 2008 were stronger (50.2 IP, 50 K, 14 BB). In 12.2 major league innings, he struck out 9 and walked 7.

Jose Alvarez split time between class-A affiliates in Lowell (MA) and Salem (VA) this season. Cumulatively, he tossed 107.2 innings as he pitched both out of the bullpen and in the rotation. His major league equivalent FIP between the two clubs was 5.11. In those 107.2 innings, he struck out 74 and walked 16. He has the virtue of generating more ground balls than fly balls.

Overall, this is a deal that reflects the major league needs of the two clubs. Hermida, in his second year of arbitration, is set to get a raise from the $2.25 million he earned in 2009. Given that he is unlikely to produce more than one win, especially coming off the bench, his surplus value is close to zero.

Neither of the prospects the Marlins received in return are set to be world-beaters, but each could provide some league average innings out of the bullpen down the road.

Morning Prowl: Tom Brookens, Clete's Jersey Retired, Rising Stars, and Yesterday's Trades

Ian Casselberry — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:00:31 -0000

Double-A Erie manager (and former Tigers third baseman) Tom Brookens says he'd be interested in a major league coaching job if one was offered. Will the Tigers offer him the first base coach position vacated by Andy Van Slyke?

Clete Thomas had his high school jersey retired on Wednesday. Thomas wore No. 3 at Mosley High School in Lynn Haven, FL. (I'm sure Gary Sheffield would've given that up willingly.) It's the first baseball number the school's ever retired. (You can see a list of his prep achievements here.)

Here's more on the ceremony, including video, from a local news station. (via 1baseball34 on Twitter)

If you want to get a look at prospects Casper Wells and Andrew Oliver, MLB Network is broadcasting the Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars Showcase Saturday night at 8:15 p.m. ET. (via MLive.com)

On his blog, Jason Beck shared some projections from the Bill James Handbook. And they look pretty kindly on Ryan Raburn next season. (Curtis Granderson and Magglio Ordonez are also viewed favorably, which would make a huge difference for next year's lineup.)

More minors: At Fangraphs, Marc Hulet looks at five Tigers minor leaguers (current or former) who are worthy of mention, but probably won't be listed among the team's top 10 prospects.

Jarrod Washburn says he'd "be surprised" if the Tigers offered him a contract for next season. Washburn sounds like a smart guy. If they were interested, Detroit has exclusive negotiating rights with Washburn, who says his knee feels better after surgery, until November 20.

If you'd like to look at who will join Washburn in free agency, here's a complete list of free agents for 2010 from MLB Daily Dish.

Anybody else look at the deal for Jeremy Hermida the Red Sox made with the Marlins, and wonder if the Tigers could've (or should've) gotten in on that action? Or would that have just added to a logjam in Detroit? (Over the Monster is a bit baffled by the trade, wondering where Hermida will play in Boston.)

Meanwhile, Mark Teahen had reportedly been traded to the White Sox for Chris Getz and Josh Fields. Or was he? As of last night, Teahen was still a Kansas City Royal.

The Big Lead has three ideas to improve the MLB playoffs. Mostly, we're linking to this because the writer called the Tigers-Twins tiebreaker "the most exciting baseball moment this season."

Those who believe the Tigers should pursue a trade with the Brewers for shortstop J.J. Hardy (unless he's non-tendered) will likely enjoy this Fangraphs article about Hardy's defense.

Have some time to kill at work today? Check out this optical illusion based on the break of a curveball. No wonder Wilkin Ramirez can't hit that thing. (I probably shouldn't have said that.)

BoSox trade for Jeremy Hermida

Adam J. Morris — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:29:11 -0000

More photos » by Tom Mihalek - AP

4 months ago: Florida Marlins right fielder Jeremy Hermida snags the ball hit by Philadelphia Phillies' Ryan Howard in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

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Boston has acquired COF Jeremy Hermida from the Florida Marlins in exchange for LHPs Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez.

While this appears to be a salary dump for Florida -- Hermida made $2.25 million in 2009, and will probably get $3.5-4 million in 2010, making him a potential non-tender candidate for the Marlins -- they look like they got some talent back. Jones is just a random 25 year old arm, but Alvarez put up good numbers as a 20 year old in the New York-Penn League (although he didn't make the BA League top 20).

Hermida is an interesting guy to take a flyer on, a high school draftee in 2002* who had a strong season in 2007, posting a .296/.369/.501 line while playing in a pitcher's park, but who has regressed the past couple of years. And he's limited to a corner outfield spot, so if he doesn't hit, he doesn't have value.

* Hermida went #11 overall, 1 pick behind Drew Meyer. I was irritated with the Meyer pick because I wanted Texas to take either Hermida or Bobby Brownlie.

But this gives the BoSox a hedge in case Jason Bay walks in free agency, particularly given that there isn't exactly a sterling crop of COF guys out there on the market. And it also allows them to work with a guy who looks like a solid reclamation project, and who is under team control through 2011...if Hermida bounces back strong, he has the potential to be a bargain in 2011.

This is interesting because it is consistent with the philosophy the BoSox have shown of late with guys like Rocco Baldelli, Brad Penny, John Smoltz...if they are going to spend $3-5 million on a player, they'd rather have a high beta guy who might give you nothing, or might give you a whole lot, rather than get the safe, guaranteed mediocrity.