The Angels traded reliever David Hernandez to the Arizona Diamondbacks for a minor league pitcher on Monday, completing the deal minutes before the 1 p.m. PT deadline.
Luis Madero, a 20-year-old right-hander who has not yet pitched in a full season league, is coming back to the Angels. He was not listed among Arizona’s top 30 prospects by MLB.com.
Bud Norris and Yusmeiro Petit, the other Angels relievers who are on expiring contracts the season, were still with the club as the deadline passed.
The Angels got four months and a prospect out of Hernandez after acquiring him in April for cash from the Atlanta Braves. The Angels picked him up to fortify their injury-ravaged bullpen, and he enjoyed a career revival.
Hernandez, 32, posted a 2.23 ERA in 36 1/3 innings with the Angels. He allowed 29 hits, and had 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings.
A veteran of parts of eight big league seasons, Hernandez spent most of his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks, including briefly closing for them in 2011.
Madero has a career 4.13 ERA in 233 minor league innings over four seasons, including 35 starts in 49 games.
He began this season in the rookie-level Pioneer League and then moved up to the short-season-A Northwest League. He had a 3.99 ERA in the Pioneer League and an 8.24 ERA in the Northwest League.
A native of Venezuela, Madero is listed at 6-3, 175 pounds.