Colorado Rockies trade Jesus Tinoco to the Miami Marlins

The Colorado Rockies have traded reliever Jesus Tinoco to the Miami Marlins for fellow reliever Chad Smith.

The Miami Marlins announced late Thursday night that they have acquired reliever Jesus Tinoco from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for right-handed pitcher Chad Smith.

Tinoco, 25, made his MLB debut with the Rockies in the 2019 campaign, when he made 24 appearances out of the bullpen. He struggled, though, especially on his peripheral numbers. He was 0-3 with an ERA of 4.75 in 36 1/3 innings pitched but he had a FIP of 7.91, a WHIP of 1.611, and 5.5 walks per nine innings compared to just 7.0 strikeouts in that same span.

In Spring Training, Tinoco pitched four innings without allowing an earned run as he allowed four hits and two unearned runs while walking two and punching six batters out.

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The Rockies acquired Tinoco all the way back in July 2015 along with Jose Reyes, Jeff Hoffman, and Miguel Castro for Troy Tulowitzki and LaTroy Hawkins. With Tinoco now gone, Hoffman is the only player remaining in either team’s system in a deal that has not been good for either side.

Smith, 25, has yet to make it past Double-A in the Marlins organization. He was drafted by the Marlins out of the University of Mississippi in the 11th round of the 2016 draft.

In 2019, he split the season between Advanced-A Jupiter and Double-A Jacksonville and he pitched to a 4.54 ERA in 34 games, all in relief. His main problem is his control as he has walked more than five batters per nine innings in each of the last two seasons (in 2019, it was 5.5 BB/9). He also struck out 9.9 batters per nine innings.

With both players being traded, they were each part of their former team’s roster pool (as they must be to be traded) and each will report to their new team’s minor league alternate training site.

With Chris Owings being removed early from the game on Wednesday, it’s possible that the Rockies may have more roster moves coming, if Owings is injured, before this evening’s series opener against the Texas Rangers at 6:40 p.m. (Mountain time). Ryan Castellani will face Lance Lynn in the pitching matchup.