RHP Cesar Valdez Completes Duke Trade

To complete the Zack Duke trade, to Arizona, in late November, the Pirates receive Cesar Valdez, the trade was made for a player to be named later. At the time, all MLB 40 Man rosters were frozen, awaiting the Rule 5 draft. After the completion of the first round (AAA), the completion was announced.

Cesar Valdez, was signed by the Diamondbacks, in 2005, as an amateur free agent. He did make his MLB debut May of the 2010 season, and was sent back to AAA, after being designated for assignment.

2010 MLB Stats (20 IP in 9 games): 1-2, 7.65 ERA, 13 K; Allowing 29 H/19 R/17 ER

*Was unable to find stats for his MiLB career, within the Diamondbacks organization.

I do see Valdez going to Indianapolis, his MLB career doesn't show to be too promising, and the simple fact the Diamondbacks did not protect him, by adding him to the 40 Man Roster, from the Rule 5 Draft pick, shows how confident they were with his arm. Compared to Duke's numbers last year, this may seem to be an even swap, but when you add his potential payroll in, this was a great move to trade him, while they still had player control.