The Arizona Diamondbacks have struck first this year at the winter meetings, trading third baseman Mark Reynolds to the Baltimore Orioles for two young pitchers, David Hernandez and Kameron Mickolio.
Reynolds, a 2009 All Star, has always been a fascinating player. Capable of extraordinary power, he also is prone to strikeouts, leading the league in the latter category the past two seasons. In fact, 2010 marked the first time that an MLB player struck out more than he had points in his batting average. Reynolds struck out 211 times in 2010 while only hitting .198. New Arizona manager Kirk Gibson was not a fan of Reynolds’ batting approach, making him a prime trade target.
In return, Baltimore gives up two young pitchers. David Hernandez was a league average arm in the AL East as a 25-year-old. While prone to control issues, allowing too many walks and home runs, he adds depth to an Arizona team that desperately needed starting pitching depth last season.
The other pitcher going to Arizona, Kameron Mickolio, is a 6’9" RHP who will likely join the Diamondbacks’ 2011 bullpen, the biggest weakness for the team in 2010. Mickolio has shown great success in limited major league experience, striking out an average of 10 batters per nine innings pitched. Those are elite numbers, and if they continue, Mickolio could become a big piece in the Arizona bullpen next season.