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The Diamondbacks will send Javier Vazquez to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez, reliever Luis Vizcaino and outfield prospect Chris Young, pending each player passes his physical exam, a deal that would satisfy Vazquez's request to pitch closer to his native Puerto Rico while returning some young talent to Arizona.
An American League source intimated that neither Jon Garland nor Jose Contreras was likely to be a part of the deal.
Hernandez, the Cuban right-hander with four World Series rings and a reputation as a big-game pitcher, is listed at age 36 but could be as old as 40. He went 9-9 with a 5.12 ERA last season. He is due to be paid $4.5.million in base salary next season, the last in a two-year deal he signed with the White Sox.
Hernandez, who has struggled to stay healthy in recent years, has a career postseason mark of 12-3 with a 2.55 ERA.
Vazquez is owed $24.million over two years, but by demanding a trade — his right as a player dealt in the middle of a multi-year contract — he forfeited the opportunity to become a free agent at the conclusion of his current deal. Should the trade go through, the White Sox would have the option of offering him arbitration for a third season.
Young, 22, a highly regarded prospect, could be the key to the deal. In Double-A Birmingham, he hit .277 with a .377 on-base percentage, 41 doubles, 26 home runs and 32 stolen bases. He was recently named the ninth-best prospect in the Arizona Fall League.
Reliever Luis Vizcaino also is part of the deal, a baseball official said Wednesday.
The deal is contingent on the players passing physicals and must be approved by Commissioner Bud Selig because Arizona is sending the White Sox cash to help pay part of Vazquez’s salary.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been finalized.
Vizcaino joined the White Sox last season as part of a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers that also landed Chicago Scott Podsednik and sent Carlos Lee to the Brewers. He pitched well in the second half after a slow start and finished 6-5 with a 3.73 ERA.
The Arizona Diamondbacks signed infielder Damion Easley to a one-year contract on Monday.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Easley hit .240 with nine homers and 30 RBI for the Florida Marlins last season. His campaign ended on September 16 after he suffered a severe right ankle sprain.
The infielder is a lifetime .251 hitter with 138 home runs, 586 RBI and 113 stolen bases in 1,427 career games.
Easley has played all four infield positions in the majors, and his .984 career fielding percentage as a second baseman ranks second among active players with a minimum of 1,000 games at the position.
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