Livan Hernandez Traded

Wow. I'm not quite sure what to make of it -- other than to never trust ESPN!

He's off to Arizona for two starting pitcher prospects, Garret Mock and Matt Chico.

I'm sort of reeling now. I really liked Livan. And I don't know what this means in terms of going forward. But Mike Rizzo, the Nats Scouting Director certainly knows these guys inside and out. You've gotta trust his judgement with them.

Still, wow.

I'm going to miss Livan.

Thanks to Basil at Federal Baseball for sharing the release.

More later....

Here's John Sickles latest on them. It's a recap of his pre-season top 20.
9) Garrett Mock, RHP, B
3-7, 4.55 in 17 starts for Double-A Tennessee, 94/39 K/BB in 99 innings, 103 hits allowed. Not really breaking through as I thought he might, but the K/IP remains promising.

20) Matt Chico, LHP, C
A rebounding process, combined numbers are 5-6, 3.14 in 17 starts between Lancaster and Tennessee, with an 86/24 K/BB in 95 innings, 75 hits allowed. Is finally adapting to Double-A competition after failing to do so in '04 and '05.

Here's The WaPo story.

NFA listened in on the press conference and spits back Bowden's quotes.

Banks gives a thumbs up and rounds up some other scouting reports of the kids from around teh internets.