One year after shaking comparisons with Gary Scott, Kevin Orie was dealt to Florida late Friday along with two minor-leaguers for left-handed reliever Felix Heredia and a minor-league pitcher.
While the NL Central Division-leading Houston Astros obtained All-Star lefty Randy Johnson from Seattle, the Cubs got a $225,000 reliever to patch up the bullpen.
Heredia, 22, was 0-3 with a 5.49 earned-run average in 41 games for the Marlins. He had 38 strikeouts in 41 innings and held left-handed hitters to a .187 average.
“Our main focus all day was the bullpen,” General Manager Ed Lynch said. “We got a young lefty reliever we feel will make an immediate impact on the club and contribute for several years.”
The Cubs also acquired Class A pitcher Steve Hoff and sent Class AAA right-hander Justin Speier and former first-round draft pick Todd Noel to the Marlins.
Orie was made the starting third baseman last year and hit .275. But he was batting .181 this year and had lost his starting job to Jose Hernandez.
“It was difficult to give up Orie, Speier and Noel, but quality left-handed setup guys are a very hot commodity these days,” Lynch said. “We wanted to make sure we could make a run for (the playoffs). With our bullpen now we feel we can compete with anyone.”
The arrival of Heredia could give Terry Mulholland a shot at rejoining the rotation as the fifth starter.
Manager Jim Riggleman “is free to use him any way he sees fit,” Lynch said.
But Johnson going to the Astros could be the move that puts Houston over the hump in the Central Division.
“We haven’t had a chance to take a look at (the Johnson trade),” Lynch said. “Obviously, he’s an impact guy. We feel pretty good about our staff. It’s going to be a heck of a race.”
