BaseballAmerica.com: Majors: Trade Central: Cubs Deal Heilman to D'backs After Only One Season

Cubs Deal Heilman to D'backs After Only One Season

By John Manuel and Matt Eddy
November 19, 2009

The Deal

The Cubs shipped righthanded reliever Aaron Heilman to the Diamondbacks for a pair of minor leaguers: lefty reliever Scott Maine and first baseman Ryne White. Heilman has fallen far from his run as Mets' eighth-inning reliver, which lasted from 2005 to '07, but he's durable and effective enough in low-leverage spots. Arizona may opt to return him to the rotation, where he pitched at Notre Dame and throughout the minor leagues. However, just 25 of his 375 big league appearances have come in that role.

This trade marks the third time Heilman has been dealt in the last year.

Cubs Acquire

Scott Maine, lhp
Age: 24.
Born: Feb. 2, 1985 in Jupiter, Fla.
Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 195. Bats: L. Throws: L.
School: Miami.
Career Transactions: Selected by Diamondbacks in sixth round of 2007 draft; signed June 18, 2007.

Club (League)	Class	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP
Mobile (SL)	AA	3	3	2.66	36	0	5	47	56	14	14	2	15	46	1.50
Reno (PCL)	AAA	1	2	3.68	12	0	2	15	13	7	6	0	7	15	1.36
Total		4	5	2.90	48	0	7	62	69	23	20	2	22	61	1.47

Maine's career at Miami was interrupted by both Tommy John surgery and an automobile accident that fractured his skull. He nevertheless worked his way to Triple-A in 2009 and has had a solid pro career as a lefthanded reliever. He threw a career-high 62 innings this season, finishing the season with Triple-A Reno. He uses a low three-quarters slot to generate average fastball velocity and throws a solid curveball for his strikeout pitch. Lefthanded batters actually fared better against Maine at both stops this season. He appeared in two Arizona Fall League games with Scottsdale early in the season, striking out two and walking four (and hitting two other batters) in 1 2/3 innings.

Ryne White, 1b
Age: 23. Positions: 1B (78 G), LF (21 G), RF (7 G).
Born: Oct. 17, 1986 in Chicago.
Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 205. Bats: L. Throws: L.
School: Purdue.
Career Transactions: Selected by Diamondbacks in fourth round of 2008 draft; signed June 13, 2008.

Club (League)	Class	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	OBP	SLG
Visalia (CAL)	HiA	.266	116	418	62	111	18	1	6	52	65	87	3	.371	.356

A Chicago native who went to high school at St. Rita of Cascia on the South Side, White's best tool is his lefthanded bat. But despite tallying a strong .366 on-base percentage for his career, he hit for disappointing power in the California League in '09—despite having tick above-average raw power. He hit particularly poorly in 59 road games, batting .228/.324/.326, but with five of his six homers. White knows the strike zone and makes consistent contact. He has a squatty frame and is limited to first base or left field, where he'll continue at Double-A next season.

Diamondbacks Acquire

Aaron Heilman, rhp
Age: 31. Remaining Commitment: 1 arbitration-eligible year prior to free agency ($1.625 million in '09).
Contract details courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts.

Club (League)	YEAR	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP
New York (NL)	2007	7	7	3.03	81	0	1	86	72	36	29	8	20	63	1.07
New York (NL)	2008	3	8	5.21	78	0	3	76	75	48	44	10	46	80	1.59
Chicago (NL)	2009	4	4	4.11	70	0	1	72	68	34	33	9	34	65	1.41
3-Year Totals		14	19	4.07	220	0	5	234	215	118	106	27	100	208	1.34

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