I wouldn't trade Julio, at least yet anyways. The guy is talented and has a chance to be a very good top of the rotation type starter, but he needs help in the form of psychology. He has good stuff but he melts like butter when the limelights are on. That start against LA in the playoffs 2 years ago may have been the worst start I have ever seen in the postseason. Yes, I've seen pitchers get shelled including our own HOFer's like Maddux and Glavine, but their's was explainable, for whatever reason on that given day they just didn't have it, but Julio had good stuff and had run support but he just wasn't there, at all.
As an organization, we need to send this guy to a psychologist much like we did with Smoltz to see if the lightbulb in there can be turned on. If it can, we got a pretty darn good pitcher. If not, continue to expect the same, a good pitcher that just can't be relyed on in the biggest of games. If we as an organization are serious about putting a serious contender on the field in the future, determining Julio's status in this way is paramount in determining how far we go. If not, probably best to just cut ties. But if we do, we should let him rebound and build value. I don't think he's done, I don't think there is a serious injury issue there with the knee, but I do believe there is an underlying problem with his mentality. And unfortunately, our manager isn't the best at inspiring confidence for someone that is easily shaken as Julio is.
Is he an ace, that's yet to be determined. The guy was very good the previous 2 years, and was a stopper at a very young age. Can he take the next step, yes, but will he I don't know. That's something that the higher ups in the organization must determine whether or not Julio's best value is to be a contributor on our team or on someone else's and used as an asset to acquire something at a position of need, especially considering our pitching depth.
Unfortunately, unrealistic expecations we're placed on this kid at a young age, with the comparison's to Pedro Martinez. Pedro was a once in a lifetime pitcher. Julio has a chance to pave his own way, but he's not Pedro, he's not that type of pitcher. In fact, the first time I saw him he reminds me more of Pedro's brother, Ramon, and quite frankly, there is nothing wrong with that but to some that won't be enough.
