MLB.com has learned the Marlins and San Francisco Giants are actively talking with the D-backs about the 28-year-old right-hander, whose fastball was recently clocked at 97 mph in a spring training game.

The Red Sox

The Marlins and Giants

Interesting to see this, as the Diamondbacks really don’t have a closer that we can bank on for the entire season. Not only that, but the bullpen is a great fear for me. Guys who are great one year, can fizzle the next and vice versa. Granted, the one benefit we have this year is that we have a lot of innings eater starters (so theoretically we wont need to be using the bullpen as much as last year). But I would much rather have a stocked up bullpen than a depleted one. To me it makes no sense to trade Julio right now. It turns out, that here in the blogsphere, I am not alone. Jim McLennan seems to concur:

“The bullpen concerns me. Julio (five shutout innings, on two hits) has been the only reliable arm, which perhaps makes me less inclined to trade him.” - azsnakepit.com

Join the discussion at The Fanster Forums. Arizona Sports 24/7.