Javelina Acquire Pence

In what was a busy morning, the Julian Javelina agreed to acquire outfielder Hunter Pence from the Michigan Miracles.  The trade, which saw the Javelina swap pitcher CJ Wilson, third baseman Chase Headley and a contract extension for Pence and injured closer Mariano Rivera, should help fill what has been a gaping hole in the team's outfield for the foreseeable future.

In Pence, the Javelina acquired what they consider a potential cornerstone player who is just entering his baseball prime.  Pence, 29, is hitting .275/.340/.467 for the year with 47 runs, 13 HR, 42 RBI and 26 BB.  Most importantly to GM Jamie Hoyle, Pence has been remarkably consistent, averaging .291/.343/.484 with 21 HR, 75 RBI, 72 R and 11 SB since 2007.  He's also remarkably durable, averaging 155 games since his first full season in the majors (2008).

Rivera was an add-in to make the contract swaps work, but could still make an impact in 2013.

"Hunter can hit," said GM Jamie Hoyle.  "He may not be a 40 HR type, but he does a little of everything and has proven himself to be a reliable run producer.  Having him under contract through 2014 makes him a huge piece of our plans moving forward."

Of course, acquiring a talent like Pence requires parting with some significant pieces.  Firs and foremost, the team had to part with pitcher CJ Wilson to get the deal done.  Wilson had been the Javelina's most consistent and durable SP in 2012, but Hoyle decided having a pitcher like Wilson was pointless in a season mired by a total absence of offensive production.  Also gone is 3B Chase Headley, who is enjoying the makings of a career year.

"CJ and Chase were important parts of our team," explained Hoyle.  "But we had to add an impact bat, and the reality was we weren't going to extend Chase anyway.  So it came down to parting with a pitcher whose greatest value was as a trade piece, and a player who wasn't going to be here next season."

In another, minor deal, the team also traded pine tar using RP Joel Peralta to the North Texas Rangers in exchange for relievers Franklin Morales and Luke Gregerson.