Mets trade the expensive, expendable and unreliable Jorge Julio to the Diamondbacks for Orlando Hernandez. El Duque has a 2.65 ERA this year on the road and has struck out 10.25 batters per 9 innings this season, but an 8.16 ERA in home games in hitter-friendly Arizona made him available. I love this deal; Hernandez may not be the most reliable or durable starter, but he came cheap, he’s still got good stuff, he’s a proven big-game guy, and he can probably be a useful mentor to his countryman Alay Soler.
And one more question: who will replace Julio in the pen? Can I dare hope to Free Heath Bell?