The Braves have made a ton of moves in the past week that have signaled to the public that they will not go down without a fight. Their biggest one came just minutes before the deadline on Friday as they sent right-handed pitchers Bryse Wilson and Ricky DeVito to the Pirates for closer Richard Rodriguez.
Bryse Wilson and Ricky Devito from Braves to Pirates for Richard Rodriguez, source says.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2021
The 31-year-old Rodriguez still has two more seasons left of arbitration eligibility after 2021, so he is not a pure rental. He will provide a massive boost to the Atlanta bullpen as he posted a 2.98 ERA over four seasons with the Pirates. Rodriguez has 33 strikeouts in 38.1 innings this year with a 2.82 ERA, 2.86 xERA, and .229 wOBA. Those are all very good numbers, so to get that guy for two-and-a-half years? A great move from Atlanta. Plus, they did not give up any key prospects in return.
Of course, the Pirates were definitely not fleeced. They acquired Wilson, a 23-year-old who was drafted in the fourth round. He has made seven starts for the Braves this season with a 4.83 ERA. Still, he has never been able to keep a full-time starting job.
Meanwhile, DeVito was drafted in the eighth round in 2019 out of Seton Hall University. He has a 2.66 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 20.1 innings for High-A Rome this year.
The return is not unbelievable, but the Pirates were able to pick up two potential solid future pieces for Rodriguez.
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