Marlins trade for Arthur Rhodes

[tomkent53]

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Seattle Mariners got a lot younger Thursday morning when they traded veteran left-handed pitcher Arthur Rhodes to the Florida Marlins in exchange for 22-year-old, right-handed pitcher Gaby Hernandez.

Rhodes, who at 38 was the oldest pitcher on the Mariners' roster, had been hearing his name in baseball's trade chatter for a week or more. It was quite a comeback for the veteran, who has had two tours of duty with Seattle. A year ago at this time he was recovering from ligament replacement surgery – Tommy John surgery – in his left elbow.
Hernandez, a starting pitcher in the Marlins' minor league system, was 5-8 with a 6.46 ERA in 17 starts split between Double-A Carolina and Triple-A Albuquerque.

His season has been going in a retrograde motion, however, as he started the season at Triple-A and has only started to pitch well since being moved down to Carolina where he is 3-0 with a 4.30 ERA in four starts since his July 6 demotion.

General manager Lee Pelekoudas, who is trying to make at least one more trade before the 1 p.m. trade deadline, is giving Rhodes a chance to make the post-season with the Marlins, who are in contention in the National League East rather than serve out his time with Seattle, which is hopelessly out of contention in the American League West.
Left-handed starter Jarrod Washburn (Yankees, Mets and Rockies) and left fielder Raul Ibanez (Mets and Cubs) are also the subjects of serious trade talks as the deadline closes in

At the same time, the acquisition of Hernandez is a move to go younger as Seattle points towards next season.

"We felt the opportunity to acquire a young pitcher made sense as we look towards 2009 and beyond," Pelekoudas said. "Pedro Grifol, our minor league field coordinator, has known Gaby for several years and believes he has a chance to help us in the future."
Rhodes was a vital component of the 2001 Seattle team that set an AL record with 116 wins. He left the team as a free agent after the 2003 season, then came back for the 2007 season.

He made the club out of spring training, but just before the season started he injured his elbow. He ultimately missed the entire season after needing surgery.

This year he was 2-1 with one save and a 2.86 era in 36 games, all in relief. He last pitched Wednesday night when he gave up an eighth-inning run that led to his first loss of the season. But he held opponents scoreless in 32 of his 36 appearances this year.
After the game he said that while he was aware his name was out there in trade rumors, he still considered himself a Mariner. And he said he was flattered.

"I've come back to prove I can still pitch after Tommy John surgery," he said after Wednesday's game. "That's a good feeling."

SOURCE: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseba..._rhodes01.html