During an already busy Winter Meetings, the Miami Marlins acquired right-hander Andre Rienzo from the Chicago White Sox for left-handed reliever Dan Jennings on Thursday.
Late Wednesday night, the Marlins acquired second-baseman Dee Gordon from the Los Angeles Dodgers and in another deal Thursday, they landed pitcher Mat Latos from the Cincinnati Reds.
Rienzo split the 2014 season at Triple-A Charlotte and the White Sox, going 5-9 with a 5.66 ERA in 28 games (20 starts) between the two clubs. Like DeSclafani, he provides flexibility as a reliever and starter.
The 26-year-old signed as an international free agent in 2006 out of Sao Paolo, Brazil. He became the first player born in Brazil to start and win a major-league game on Aug. 21, 2013, against the Kansas City Royals. As a minor leaguer, Rienzo has gone 38-30 with a 3.51 ERA in 590 1/3 innings and 121 appearances. Over 28 big-league appearances (21 starts), he is 6-8 with a 5.89 ERA.
Jennings, who turns 28 in April, was out of options and would have needed to make the Opening Day roster in order to stay in the organization.
In 2014, Jennings went 0-2 with a 1.34 ERA in 47 outings, giving up 45 hits in 40 1/3 innings. He struck out 38 batters and walked 17. Inherited runners scored 12 of 29 times. After getting hit by a liner to the temple in August, Jennings returned to the big-league mound a month later.
Setup man Mike Dunn is now the lone southpaw reliever in the Miami bullpen.
Also Thursday, the Marlins selected left-hander Andrew McKirahan from the Chicago Cubs in the major-league phase of the Rule 5 Draft.
McKirahan, who turns 25 in February, went 2-4 with a 2.08 ERA in 44 relief outings between Single-A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee. He is a former 21st-round selection in the 2011 First-Year Player draft from the University of Texas. Last winter, Miami took first baseman Justin Bour in the Triple-A portion of the Rule 5 Draft from the Cubs.
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
