Benedicts Acquire Duke, De La Rosa

The Benedicts addressed a pressing need for healthy pitchers by acquiring Arizona's Zach Duke and Los Angeles's Rubby de la Rosa in this week's FAAB.

Duke, acquired for $10, is a familiar name for long-time Benedict fans - the Clifton, Texas, native joined the team in 2005 and impressed by going 8-2 in 14 starts with a 1.81 ERA over the second half. Duke has never come close to repeating such dominance since. The southpaw posted a respectable (by Pirate standards) 11-16, 4.06 effort in 2009, but regressed badly last year to 8-15, 5.72, prompting the Bucs to deal Duke to Arizona this off-season for 25-year old pitching non-prospect Cesar Valdez.

Duke broke a two bones in his pitching hand on a come-backer in a spring game, and did not make his first start as a D-Back until this week against Houston. Duke hurled 7 innings of 3-hit, shutout ball for his first D-Back win in the game. The Benedicts hope Duke can duplicate that performance against actual Major League line-ups as the season progresses.

De la Rosa, 22, is an interesting prospect for the Dodgers and we are not just speaking of his first name. The lanky Dominican was 2-2, 1.93 with 52 strikeouts in 40 innings over 8 starts at AA Chattanooga when the Dodgers made the call for him to join the Dodgers' decimated bullpen. With nominal closer Jonathan Broxton both injured (0ut until early June) and ineffective (1-2, 5.68 ERA), De la Rosa figures to get a chance to win or save games in relief until a rotation spot opens. The Benedicts acquired De la Rosa for $7.

The Benedicts waived Padre outfield prospect Cedric Hunter, who does not figure in this year's plans for San Diego, and Houston middle reliever Wilton Lopez.