Report: Paul Maholm, Reed Johnson Traded to Atlanta Braves for Pitching Prospects

by NESN Staff on Mon, Jul 30, 2012 at 11:58PM

The Chicago Cubs have been busy Monday night.

Shortly after reportedly trading catcher Geovany Soto to the Texas Rangers, the Cubs then dealt outfielder Reed Johnson and lefty starter Paul Maholm to the Atlanta Braves.

In exchange for the two, the Cubs will receive Braves pitchers Arodys Vizcaino, who is out this season after Tommy John surgery, and righthander Jaye Chapman, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.

Johnson is batting .302 in 169 at-bats this year. While he only has three home runs and 16 RBI, Johnson can play any outfield position and will offer the Braves yet another right-handed threat in the batter's box.

Maholm, perhaps the more appealing piece of the deal for Atlanta, is 9-6 with a 3.74 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 2012.

Like Soto, both Johnson and Maholm were traded midway through Chicago's opener of its three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.