The Washington Nationals today acquired a pair of 23 year-old starting pitchers, righthander Garrett Mock and lefthander Matt Chico, from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for right-handed pitcher Livan Hernandez. Nationals Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.

 

Mock (117) and Chico (112) ranked first and second, respectively, in the Diamondbacks' minor league system in strikeouts at the time of the trade.

 

"I'd like to thank Livan Hernandez for the many contributions he made to this organization during his four years with the club," said Bowden. "Ultimately, the opportunity to acquire two young starting pitchers is consistent with the organization's goal to build toward long-term success."

 

The 6-foot-4, 215 lbs. Mock entered 2006 rated as the Diamondbacks' No. 7 prospect, per Baseball America, after going 14-7 with a 4.18 ERA (81 ER/174.1 IP) in 28 starts for Single-A Lancaster last season despite pitching in the California League, which is arguably minor league baseball's highest-scoring circuit due to a combination of dry climates, high elevations and small ballparks. Mock's 160 strikeouts (8.3 per 9.0 innings) led all Arizona minor leaguers in 2005. Using Mock's top-flight performance in his first full pro campaign as its guide, Baseball America rated Mock as the second-ranked pitching prospect in Arizona's system.

 

Mock, a University of Houston product, is currently 4-8 with a 4.95 ERA (72 ER/131.0 IP) in 23 starts for Tennessee of the Double-A Southern League, where he worked at least 7.0 shut-out innings four times this season, and tallied a pair of 10-strikeout efforts (June 29 at Carolina and May 19 at Carolina). Mock's 117 strikeouts on the season, which currently rank fourth in the Southern League, have helped him post a stellar 3.3/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio for his three-year career.

 

At the time of the trade, the 23 year-old Chico was 7-2 with a 2.22 ERA in 13 starts for Tennessee, where he posted a .211 batting average against. He allowed three earned runs or less in each of his 13 starts at the Double-A level this season, and went 6-0 with a 1.87 ERA in his seven most-recent Double-A assignments. Chico, who also enjoyed a 10-start stint with Lancaster of the Single-A California League earlier this season, is 10-6 with a 2.81 ERA (41 ER/131.1 IP) in 23 starts in 2006. Chico ranked among Arizona minor leaguers in strikeouts (second with 112) and ERA (fourth at 2.81) upon being acquired by Washington.

 

Chico is 36-31 with a 3.75 ERA (215 ER/515.1 IP) in 96 games (90 starts) in three pro seasons, during which he has averaged 8.2 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched. Chico was Boston's second-round selection out of high school, but elected not to sign. Following a 2004 campaign in which he won 11 games and fanned 8.9 per 9.0 innings pitched, Chico was rated by Baseball Weekly as the top pitching prospect in the Diamondbacks' minor-league system, and the top pitching prospect in the Single-A Midwest League by Baseball America.

 

Both Mock (2004) and Chico (2003) were tabbed by Arizona as third-round selections in drafts run by Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo, who last month ended a seven-year tenure in Arizona's scouting department, the last five of which he served as Director of Scouting.

 

Both pitchers will report to Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League.

 

Hernandez, 31, went 9-8 with a 5.34 ERA in 24 starts for Washington in 2006.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_r...sp&c_id=was

kind of surprising that Livan made it through waivers

kind of surprising that Livan made it through waivers

 

 

$$$$$ His contract is a pretty big one... But like you said Im surprised the LA or someone didnt claim him to prevent the Dbacks from getting him

interesting that the Nats just got Rizzo who dealt with that minor league system a lot...

might just see him on the road trip

They kept Soriano's contract so they had to get rid of someone. Good pickup for the DBacks even though Livan hasn't been too great this year.

Great deal for the Nats, they got back two quality pitching prospects for an over the hill pitcher with a big contract.

kind of surprising that Livan made it through waivers

 

He wasn't. The DBacks claimed him.

 

 

Of all overpaid veterans unlikely to be with the club or prductive during the Nats' next pennant chase, I thought Livan would be kept. But it seems he left because he ended up being one of the very few with any trade value.

this was a little surprising to me. i didn't expect to see him with the d-backs, but he could eat up some innings for them. BBTN said they have some injuries (webb has some elbow problem i think) in the rotation.

interesting that the Nats just got Rizzo who dealt with that minor league system a lot...

 

A great scout, he signed Tracy and Webb for the D-backs. I guess that terrible MLS of the Nats won't be so terrible in years to come