With the off-season just a day old, the Red Sox were quick to strike a deal. According to Peter Abraham
of Boston.com, the Red Sox will send left-handed pitchers Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez (pictured) to the Florida Marlins in exchange for outfielder Jeremy
Hermida. A first-round pick by the Marlins in 2002, Hermida hit .259/.348/.392 in 429 at-bats in 2009, including 14 doubles, 13 home runs, and 57 RBI.
A veteran of five Major League seasons, the 25-year-old left-handed hitter owns a career line of .265/.344/.425 with 57 home runs in 1708 at-bats with Florida.
Hermida, who is under team control for 2010 and 2011, avoided arbitration last season by agreeing to a one-year, $2.75 million deal.
Jones, who came to the Red Sox as an undrafted free agent following the 2005 MLB draft, split time this season between Pawtucket and Boston, putting up a 9.24 in 12.2 innings of Major League work. The 25-year-old left-hander pitched to a 4-3 record with a 4.25 ERA and 39 in 53.0 Triple-A innings.
Alvarez, meanwhile, enjoyed an All-Star season for the Lowell Spinners, going 8-3 with a 1.52 ERA in 83.0 innings, striking out 63 against only 10 walks. His 8 wins set a Lowell franchise record, while his 1.52 ERA led the New York-Penn League. He also got into 12 games for High-A Salem, posting a 4.74 ERA in 24.2 innings. A native of Venezuela signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent in 2005, the 20-year-old Alvarez has a career record of 23-15 with a 3.21 ERA in four seasons in the Red Sox organization.
Jones, who came to the Red Sox as an undrafted free agent following the 2005 MLB draft, split time this season between Pawtucket and Boston, putting up a 9.24 in 12.2 innings of Major League work. The 25-year-old left-hander pitched to a 4-3 record with a 4.25 ERA and 39 in 53.0 Triple-A innings.
Alvarez, meanwhile, enjoyed an All-Star season for the Lowell Spinners, going 8-3 with a 1.52 ERA in 83.0 innings, striking out 63 against only 10 walks. His 8 wins set a Lowell franchise record, while his 1.52 ERA led the New York-Penn League. He also got into 12 games for High-A Salem, posting a 4.74 ERA in 24.2 innings. A native of Venezuela signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent in 2005, the 20-year-old Alvarez has a career record of 23-15 with a 3.21 ERA in four seasons in the Red Sox organization.