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Big Jake Dealt to Royals – Official

Clark Spencer is reporting that the Marlins are close to completing a deal that will send Mike Jacobs to the Kansas City Royals for relief pitching prospect Leo Nunez. As was reported earlier in the week, the Fish have been in talks with KC all week and almost had a deal done until they questioned the health of the pitching prospect they were going to receive in return. Here is a small breakdown of the prospect we would be getting in return…

Nunez, 25, went 4-1 with a 2.98 ERA in 45 games last season and would likely compete for a set-up role. The 25-year-old native of the Dominican Republic has pitched four seasons in the majors – all with Kansas City – and has a career record of 9-7 with a 4.92 ERA.

Nunez really stepped up this season, becoming Joakim Soria’s primary setup man. Nunez came up from the minors at midseason in 2007 and made six starts before the team moved him to the bullpen in September, after which he struck out 12 and walked none in 10 1/3 innings. Baseball Prospectus gives Nunez a good outlook…

When evaluating Nunez’s PECOTA forecast, which pegs him for a 1.42 WHIP and 4.99 ERA, keep in mind that PECOTA evaluated Nunez in his 2007 role of swingman; if Nunez sticks at the back end of the bullpen, as it looks like he will, he could very well push his 90th percentile projection for WHIP (1.20) and ERA (3.42), due to the significant improvement in performance that pitchers historically experience upon moving from the rotation into the bullpen full-time.

Update 1:43 PM: It’s official. The Marlins have acquired Leo Nunez from the Royals for Mike Jacobs. Nuñez, expected to be a key member of the Marlins’ bullpen, was 4-1 last season with a 2.98 earned-run average.

This now opens up the first base job to Gaby Sanchez. Jorge Cantu is also expected to get a look as well.

Quite frankly, Jake wore out his welcome here. I wish him luck with his third big league team.