The D-Backs reacquire pitcher David Hernandez (above) in a trade with the Angels and get infielder Adam Rosales from the A’s. In both deals, Arizona dealt minor leaguers.
D-Backs bring back reliever Hernandez, add Rosales due to sudden shortage of infielders
In reality, the Diamondbacks’ big trade deadline acquisition happened two weeks ago, when they landed slugger J.D. Martinez. But they made a pair of rounding-out-the-roster-type moves on Monday. One was anticipated, with weeks of planning and scouting; the other was more of an ad-lib deal. ¶ In acquiring right-hander David Hernandez, the Diamondbacks added a reliever capable of handling a late-inning role in their bullpen, an area they’d been looking to address for weeks. And, with infielder Adam Rosales, they picked up a utility player who can handle shortstop, a position of sudden need given events of the previous 24 hours.
The Diamondbacks sent minor-league right-hander Luis Madero to the Angels for David Hernandez (left) and minor-league right-hander Jeferson Mejia to the Athletics for Adam Rosales (right). USA TODAY SPORTS AND GETTY IMAGES
They parted with a low-level minorleague pitcher in each trade, sending right-hander Luis Madera to the Los Angeles Angels for Hernandez and right-hander Jeferson Mejia to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Rosales.
This is the second time the Diamondbacks have acquired Hernandez in hopes of bolstering their bullpen. The last time they did it, more than 61⁄2 years ago, he helped the club win the National League West in 2011.
Three years later, he went down with Tommy John surgery, and after hitting free agency he has bounced from Philadelphia to Los Angeles over the past two years. He’s having a strong year with the Angels. In 361⁄3 innings, he has a 2.23 ERA with 37 strikeouts and eight walks and hasn’t allowed a run in his past 82⁄3 innings.
General Manager Mike Hazen said Hernandez had been a trade target for the club for a while, and he envisions him slotting into a “critical” role in the bullpen.
“We had a chance to scout and watch a number of his outings,” Hazen said. “His stuff has been good and very typical to how he has pitched when healthy throughout the majority of his career. He’s pitched here, he’s familiar with this environment, with the ballpark, with the organization, and he’s been very successful.”
The Rosales acquisition came in reaction to an injury and a tragedy. First, on Sunday afternoon, Chris Owings took a 92 mph fastball of his hand while attempting to bunt and wound up with a fractured right middle finger. He underwent surgery on Monday, was placed on the 60-day disabled list and is expected to miss eight weeks.
Then, later in the evening, shortstop Ketel Marte learned his mother, Elpidia Valdez, had died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic and he returned home.
Marte was placed on the bereavement list. Hazen did not know when to expect him back, and said baseball is secondary for the time being.
“Our thoughts are just with him through this period and figuring out a way to cope and deal with such a tragedy,” Hazen said. “We’ll be here when he’s back.”
Marte can remain on the bereavement list for between three and seven days. If he needs more time, the club can transfer him to the restricted list.
The Diamondbacks already are without shortstop Nick Ahmed, who also is recovering from a fracture in his hand. Ahmed was transferred to the 60-day DL to clear a spot for Hernandez and won’t be eligible to be reinstated until Aug. 27, which Hazen said is around the time Ahmed could be ready to return.
Hazen said the Athletics reached out on Sunday regarding Rosales but the club didn’t see as much of a need until learning of Marte’s situation. In fact, Hazen said teams had been contacting the Diamondbacks throughout the month in hopes of trading for a shortstop.
“It’s probably been our strongest area, both in depth and at the major league level,” he said.
Rosales, 34, has played parts of 10 seasons in the majors. He was hitting.234/.273/.346 in 205 at-bats for the A’s this season. Hazen said Rosales would “step into a pretty big role for us in the short-term” and mentioned his ability to hit left-handed pitching.
The Diamondbacks had opportunities to pursue high-profile additions at shortstop, Hazen said, but the organization wasn’t comfortable pulling the trigger.
“Without having the proper preparation, without going through a process with that, we just didn’t feel good about some of those,” Hazen said. “But we felt good about where we ended up with Adam.”