Jorge Julio

[Vladdy the Impaler]

from marlins web site:

JUPITER -- The Florida Marlins today announced that they have acquired right-handed reliever Jorge Julio and cash from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for right-handed pitcher Yusmeiro Petit. The announcement was made by Marlins Executive Vice President and General Manager Larry Beinfest.
"This move to acquire Jorge Julio helps solidify the back end of our bullpen as he assumes the role of closer," said Marlins Manager Fredi Gonzalez. "With his experience and success, and the quality of arms we have in front of him, we now have a strong corps to finish out games."

Julio, 28, was 2-4, 4.23 with 16 saves overall with the Mets and Diamondbacks in 2006. He was acquired by Arizona on May 24 of last year in exchange for RHP Orlando Hernandez. Julio spent the first five years of his ML career with Baltimore, and has compiled a 13-28, 4.20 record with 99 saves in 343 relief appearances and has 345 strikeouts in 357.2 innings.

Julio was originally signed by Montreal as an non-drafted free agent on Feb. 14, 1996. He was born in Caracas, Venezuela.

Petit, 22, was acquired by the Marlins on November 24, 2005 from the Mets in a four-player trade. He was 1-1, 9.57 in 15 games over three stints with Florida in 2006 after making his ML debut on May 14.

I just made the move to pick up Julio. Unfortunately, I had to drop John Patterson, but I desperately needed saves.

Anyway... what are your feelings of Julio this year. I think he will be in for a good year. Closers have had significant success in FLA if they can hold their job.

I've seen the dude pitch. If he can be more consistent with his slider and have control on the fastball... he's a great pitcher. His k/ip ratio proves his talent. it's just a matter of being more consistent with it.

[CBMGreatOne]

I actually think he'll get right around 30 or so. I think there's a lot of reason for optimism with such a hard thrower in that cavernous park.

[Half Massed]

Has Petit's stock dropped this much? I thought he was the big piece, along with Mike Jacobs, of the Carlos Delgado deal just last year.

[LukeW9027]

I put him at around 22 saves. He should be inconsistant as he always has been, but with the big ballpark and a new team I think he will be better than most believe. I certainly hope he is, considering I just picked him up in every one of my leagues.

[LukeW9027]

Has Petit's stock dropped this much? I thought he was the big piece, along with Mike Jacobs, of the Carlos Delgado deal just last year.

I was wondering that as well, not sure why a sudden change of heart from the Fish.

[Shock6822]

I picked up Julio for Lincecum just now because I only had Wagner and ChCordero...hope this wasn't a huge mistake.

[Art Vandelay]

Wasn't he around 12 k/9 last year? Even with a relatively high ERA, I'll take that any day.

[Geek]

He should get plenty of save opps there--the Marlins have a lot of good young pitching that will keep them in close games.

[Yoda]

I don't believe in him. He blows a lot of opportunities and on a team that will see Ws very sparingly. The team will realize how unreliable he is in that role.

I have doubts that he can hold the job down for an entire year.

[Shock6822]

I don't believe in him. He blows a lot of opportunities and on a team that will see Ws very sparingly. I have doubts that he can hold the job down for an entire year.

Against what competition? Up and coming minor leaguer or something?