Alvarez, Jones traded to Florida for Jeremy Hermida

With the off-season just a day old, the Red Sox were quick to strike a deal. According to Peter Abraham of Boston.com, the Red Sox will send left-handed pitchers Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez (pictured) to the Florida Marlins in exchange for outfielder Jeremy Hermida. A first-round pick by the Marlins in 2002, Hermida hit .259/.348/.392 in 429 at-bats in 2009, including 14 doubles, 13 home runs, and 57 RBI. A veteran of five Major League seasons, the 25-year-old left-handed hitter owns a career line of .265/.344/.425 with 57 home runs in 1708 at-bats with Florida. Hermida, who is under team control for 2010 and 2011, avoided arbitration last season by agreeing to a one-year, $2.75 million deal.

Jones, who came to the Red Sox as an undrafted free agent following the 2005 MLB draft, split time this season between Pawtucket and Boston, putting up a 9.24 in 12.2 innings of Major League work. The 25-year-old left-hander pitched to a 4-3 record with a 4.25 ERA and 39 in 53.0 Triple-A innings.

Alvarez, meanwhile, enjoyed an All-Star season for the Lowell Spinners, going 8-3 with a 1.52 ERA in 83.0 innings, striking out 63 against only 10 walks. His 8 wins set a Lowell franchise record, while his 1.52 ERA led the New York-Penn League. He also got into 12 games for High-A Salem, posting a 4.74 ERA in 24.2 innings. A native of Venezuela signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent in 2005, the 20-year-old Alvarez has a career record of 23-15 with a 3.21 ERA in four seasons in the Red Sox organization.

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