Apparently having your name attached to the Chicago Cubs as a possible offseason target is the kiss of death. First, Mark Teahen was dealt from the Kansas City Royals to the Chicago White Sox, and now Jeremy Hermida – also rumored as a Chicago Cubs target, should they successfully move Milton Bradley – has been dealt by the Florida Marlins to the Boston Red Sox.
The Red Sox have acquired Jeremy Hermida from the Marlins in exchange for minor league lefthanded pitchers Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez.
Hermida, 25, has hit .265/.344/.425 in almost 2,000 career plate appearances, which is not what many had in mind for the guy Baseball America once ranked as the fourth best prospect in baseball. He earned $2.25MM in 2009, and still has two more years of arbitration eligibility ahead of him.
The 25-year-old Jones got his first taste of the big leagues in 2009, when he put up a 9.24 ERA in 12.2 innings. He spent most of the year in Triple-A, where he held lefties to a .206 AVG against. Alvarez, 20, spent 2009 in Class-A ball, where he put up a 2.26 ERA in 26 games (12 start). MLBTradeRumors.com.
Hermida has been largely a disappointment after three stellar (partial) years to start out his big league career. Still, he’s just 25 and will be cheap for two more years. It was a solid move for the Red Sox.
And one that makes you wonder if the Red Sox are assuming they will not resign outfielder Jason Bay, a free agent as of yesterday. If they do not, will the Cubs get involved with Bay? Perhaps, but only if Bradley is successfully dumped without having to eat much of his salary. In other words: it’s unlikely.