With minutes to go until Monday's 1 p.m. PT non-waiver Trade Deadline, the Angels acquired Class A pitching prospect Luis Madero in exchange for right-handed reliever David Hernandez.
Madero, a 20-year-old right-hander from Venezuela, has logged a 5.69 ERA in 49 innings between two Minor League levels this season. He will join Class A Burlington's starting rotation.
Madero was not ranked among the D-backs' Top 30 prospects according to MLBPipeline.com, but Angels GM Billy Eppler said he was a pitcher with upside that the organization had been eyeing.
"[His] fastball peaked at 93 mph and he pitched between 90 and 91 comfortably [with] above-average movement," Eppler said. "[He's a] sinker ball-oriented pitcher who can also get swings and misses with the fastball and what we've graded as an above-average slider that is another pitch he can miss a lot of bats with. The changeup is a pitch that's developing for him."
Hernandez opened the season with the Braves' Triple-A affiliate, but he went on to enjoy the best campaign of his career after being acquired by the Angels in April in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named. The 32-year-old veteran recorded a 2.23 ERA over 36 1/3 innings with eight walks, 37 strikeouts and no home runs in a back-end role for the Angels.
The move will initiate Hernandez's second tour with the D-backs, as he spent four seasons in Arizona from 2011-15.
Hernandez was the only Angel dealt on Monday, though fellow relievers Bud Norris and Yusmeiro Petit also garnered some interest. Norris had been considered one of the Angels' more valuable trade chips, though he likely hurt his market by surrendering two walk-off grand slams in the last week.
"There was still plenty of activity on him as the week went on," Eppler said. "But again, we were cognizant of where we are, and the players we have, the amount of season that is left. I did not feel that we were comfortable moving guys for less than how we value them."