ROX GET HARANG FOR HERNANDEZ
The Colorado Rockies acquired pitcher Aaron Harang and cash from the Los Angeles Dodgers for catcher Ramon Hernandez.
What does it give the Colorado Rockies
Last season's emergence of rising star catcher {P Wilin Rosario} turned Hernandez into a backup, and when the Rox then added {P=2485 Yorvit Torralba} to spot Rosario, the expensive Hernandez became expendable. The Denver Post reports Harang won't be kept by the Rockies, who will instead try to trade him. Regardless of whether they manage to move Harang, the Rockies save money here (as they also get cash from L.A.) while clarifying their catching position.
What does it give the Los Angeles Dodgers
No team came out of Spring Training with as big a glut of veteran starting pitchers as the Dodgers did, so moving Harang helps them sort out the pecking order. Moreover, adding a solid veteran in Hernandez behind the plate should help their remaining pitchers, and Hernandez has an above-average bat so should be a quality backup for starting backstop {P A.J. Ellis}.
Fantasy impact
The only Rockies player affected by this trade fantasy-wise is the light-hitting Torrealba, and he still isn't much of a fantasy consideration now, despite this deal (since Rosario is entrenched as the starter). On the Dodgers side, Hernandez gets a small boost here (even though he's moving from hitter-friendly Coors to pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium) because starter Ellis isn't really a star and is off to a slow start with the bat. This move also likely scuttles any insignificant fantasy value that Dodgers backup catcher {P Tim Federowicz} might have had.
