HERMOSILLO TRADES GIL, ROBERSON TO MEXICALI

The Mexican Pacific League’s Hermosillo Naranjeros are shaking up their veteran-laden roster, trading catcher Geronimo Gil and outfielder Chris Roberson to Mexicali for 20-year-old Phillies catching prospect Angel Chavarin, Giants pitching farmhand Alex Hinshaw and the first pick in this year’s LMP draft.

Gil (pictured) hit .338 with 3 homers and 36 RBIs in 62 games for Hermosillo in 2010-11 while Roberson batted .243 with 4 homers and 11 stolen bases with the Naranjeros. Chavarin played in just two games last winter for Mexicali, going 0-for-3, while Hinshaw was 1-0 with a 3.32 ERA in 17 relief appearances for the Aguilas. Gil, Roberson and Hinshaw all have previous major league experience: Gil hit .230 in six MLB seasons, five with Baltimore from 2001-05; Roberson batted .232 for the Phillies in 2006 and 2007; Hinshaw was 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA for the Giants between 2008 and 2009. Chavarin hit .192 in 11 games for the Phillies’ Gulf Coast rookie league team last summer and has yet to play in 2011.

To make room for Gil, Mexicali dealt veteran catcher Noe Munoz to Los Mochis for the rights to nfielder Issmael Salas. Munoz, 43, is batting .230 in 38 games for Saltillo this year. Salas spent eight years in the Cubs system and is also playing for Saltillo, hitting .303 in 42 contests.