A couple of national sources report that the Pirates have sent Javier Lopez to the Giants for starter Joe Martinez and OF John Bowker.
Martinez was used as a cup-of-coffee reliever by the G-Men, but was doing pretty well as a starter at AAA Fresno. The 27 year-old righty was 5-3 with a 3.32 ERA, and averaged 7 K's and 3 BB's per nine innings with a WHIP of 1.279.
He a soft tosser. The Seton Hall product throws a 86-88 MPH sinking fastball, has a plus change and an average curve, pretty much the textbook description of a pitch-to-contact, ground ball hurler. Martinez is considered to be a fringe prospect.
Bowker, 27, is 6' 2" 200 pound outfielder (and a little 1B) with power. Last year at AAA Fresno, he hit .342 with 21 home runs, 83 RBI, 82 runs scored, and led the league in batting. This year, he's hitting .310/.384/.594 with 14 HR and 36 RBI in 197 at-bats.
But after a strong 2008 campaign, he's hit just .200 with 5 HR in 149 at-bats in the past two seasons for San Fran. Some think he needs regular time; others think he's a AAAA player.
Both will report to Indy.
So Neal Huntington turned his LOOGY into a pair of older fringe, but possibly MLB useful, prospects.
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