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Diamondbacks trade Julio to Marlins for prospect
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TUCSON - With wannabe closer Jorge Julio on his way to Florida and Edgar Gonzalez apparently the No. 4 starter, the final spots on the Diamondbacks’ pitching staff came into focus Monday.
The D-Backs dealt Julio and cash to the Marlins for prospect Yusmeiro Petit, 22, a player long admired by general manager Josh Byrnes, in a move that saves the D-Backs about $2 million.
Petit will be considered for a spot on the major league staff, Byrnes said, but it appears that Enrique Gonzalez, Dana Eveland and Micah Owings are the top contenders for the two apparent vacancies, one in the rotation and another in the bullpen.
“Julio really didn’t have a defined role, and to be able to turn him into a young pitcher who has major league experience was a better move for us,” Byrnes said.
“We liked Petit. We have for a long time. We worked hard to get him.”
The D-Backs are likely to open with 12 pitchers.
“It’s good for me, because I want to do my job, closing,” said Julio, who had 15 saves with the D-Backs last summer, taking over for Jose Valverde in May before losing the job to Valverde in August.
The D-Backs had wanted Florida to take Julio’s full $3.6 million contract but finally agreed to include an undisclosed amount of cash.
Still, they will save about $2 million and will open the season with an on-field payroll of about $48 million, which does not include the $13 million still owed Shawn Green and Russ Ortiz.
Petit made it to the major leagues for the first time last season, when he was 1-1 with a 9.57 ERA in 15 appearances, 14 in relief.
He was obtained by Florida in a trade that sent Carlos Delgado to the New York Mets before the 2006 season.
“I prepared myself here,” Petit said. “This was like a school to get ready for everything that I can expect in my career.”
Florida also was talking to San Francisco about a possible trade for Armando Benitez that would have included Petit.
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