The Boston bullpen just got a little deeper.
The Red Sox have acquired right-handed reliever Burke Badenhop from the Brewers in exchange for minor league pitcher Luis Ortega.
Badenhop, who turns 31 in February, went 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 62 1/3 innings over 63 relief appearances with Milwaukee this past season. He held right-handed hitters to a .229 (35-for-153) average in 2013, and righties have hit .254 (218-for-858) against him over the course of his six-year major league career.
Badenhop closed out his 2013 campaign on a positive note, posting a 2.05 ERA over his final 21 appearances. He and Giants reliever Sergio Romo are the only pitchers to appear in at least 60 games while allowing fewer than one homer per nine innings and two walks per nine innings in both 2012 and 2013. Badenhop also features excellent control and the ability to induce ground balls.
A former 19th-round pick of the Tigers in 2005, Bandehop spent the first four years of his career with the Marlins before being traded to the Rays before the 2012 season. This marks the third offseason in a row that Badenhop has been traded, as he was dealt to the Brewers last winter.
Ortega, a 20-year-old left-handed pitcher, spent his 2013 season with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Red Sox, where he went 3-3 with a 2.45 ERA in 36 2/3 innings over 12 appearances (one start).
The Red Sox’ 40-man roster now stands at 40 following Friday’s move.
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Photo via Wikipedia/Burke Badenhop
