Tonight, the Miami Marlins announced they had traded right-handed pitcher Chad Smith for Jesus Tinoco.
The Marlins tonight acquired RHP Jesus Tinoco from Colorado in exchange for minor league RHP Chad Smith. Tinoco is added to the Marlins’ 40-man roster (which now stands at 38) and will report to the Marlins’ Alternate Training Site in Jupiter.
— Marlins Communications (@MarlinsComms) August 14, 2020
Smith, 25, was an 11th-round draft pick (323rd overall) from the University of Mississippi drafted by the Marlins in 2016. He has not yet advanced beyond Double-A. His best pitch is a 93-95 mph fastball followed by a serviceable slider and a below-average changeup.
He has a 4.46 ERA with 10.0 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 in 149 1⁄3 minor league innings.
Tinoco, part of the 2015 Troy Tulowitzki trade, has struggled with the Rockies. He earned a 3.97 ERA in 34 innings at Albuquerque and logged 6.1 K/9 against 4.98 BB/9.
As Hayden Kane wrote of Tinoco in 2019’s “Ranking the Rockies”:
Tinoco made his MLB debut in 2019 and, in 24 appearances, he looked to fit that reliever profile. His fastball played up and he flashed real promise out of the bullpen, particularly in some long relief outings. As is typical for a rookie pitcher, Tinoco also struggled with command and walked too many hitters (5.5 BB/9). He also struggled with home runs, surrendering 12 in 36 innings of work, but as we know, every pitcher struggled with home runs this season. All told, he finished 2019 with a 4.75 ERA (110 ERA+).
The trade comes a day after Tinoco announced on Instagram the birth of his daughter, Lucia Valentina.
Tinoco’s trade opens a spot on the Rockies’ 40-man roster.
Look for additional analysis tomorrow on Purple Row.