When Jeremy Hermida hit the stage with the biggest bang possible, blasting a pinch-hit grand slam in his first major league at bat, most nodded in knowing approval. Hermida, after all, was a prized prospect the Marlins had been raving about, a can't-miss first round draft pick with one of the slickest swings in the sport.

But after waiting five years for an encore that never occurred, the Marlins on Thursday traded Hermida to the Boston Red Sox for a pair of young, left-handed pitchers. It was a move that surprised no one.

``I figured a trade was going to happen,'' Hermida said shortly after being told he had been dealt. ``It was just when and where.''

With the moratorium on major announcements lifted upon the conclusion of the World Series on Wednesday, the Marlins wasted no time in getting down to work on the winter transaction season.

Hermida was the first head to roll.

The Marlins received a couple of southpaws in Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez. Jones, the most advanced of the two, made 11 relief appearances for the Red Sox in 2009 and will contend for a bullpen spot with the Marlins.

Part of the decision for the Marlins came down to money, as if often does. Hermida is entering his second year of salary arbitration and will see an increase on the $2.25 million he made last season.

But mostly it came down to production.

Hermida was never able to live up to the initial hype that came from being the 11th overall pick in the 2002 draft. He had his shortcomings defensively and was a .265 hitter who averaged 16 home runs and fewer than 60 RBI over the past three seasons - below-average figures for a corner outfielder.

``Our expectations were high for Jeremy,'' acknowledged Larry Beinfest, the Marlins' president of baseball operations. ``He had his moments here where he was highly productive. But, given the talent level, I think the expectation was far more.''

Hermida didn't disagree.

``Being a first-round pick in that organization, I definitely thought I would come up and do things a little bit different than the way they happened.''

Hermida is hoping the change of scenery to Fenway Park and the Red Sox, who will likely use him off the bench, will prove invigorating.

``Hermida's the kind of player who hasn't fulfilled his potential yet,'' Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein told reporters. ``There's a chance that he can turn into the player he was once thought to be.''

In Jones, the Marlins obtained a sturdy, 6-4 pitcher who Beinfest said has an average to above-average fastball, a slider and a change-up. Jones, a product of Palm Beach Gardens and Florida State, had a 9.24 earned run average in limited duty for the Red Sox last season. At Triple A Pawtucket, he was 4-3 with a 4.25 ERA in 36 relief outings.

``Hunter Jones, we think, will compete for a bullpen spot in spring training,'' Beinfest said. ``It's an opportunity to add a pitcher we think can compete for a big-league job.''

Alvarez, 20, was a Single A pitcher in the Red Sox system.

``He's started and relieved,'' Beinfest said. ``He's a strike-thrower and he's a winner, and we like that.''

Hermida said he is looking forward to the opportunity to play in Boston, along with rejoining former Marlins teammates Mike Lowell and Josh Beckett.

``I enjoyed my time in Florida,'' Hermida said. ``It's the only organization I've been a part of. But I'm excited about the change of scenery and getting to a new place and starting from scratch.''

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