Braves land pitching prospect Kurcz in Varvaro trade with Red Sox
ATLANTA -- Well, it didn't take for Anthony Varvaro to find a new home.
Just two days after being designated for assignment, the Braves reliever was traded to the Boston Red Sox (along with cash considerations) -- in exchange for right-handed pitcher Aaron Kurcz.
The Wednesday trade announcement serves as yet another offseason component to the Braves' pitching overhaul, with Shelby Miller, Jim Johnson, Tyrell Jenkins, Arodys Vizcaino and now the 24-year-old Kurcz joining Atlanta's pitching staff (or organization).
In 34 bullpen appearances last season (Double-A level), Kurcz posted three wins, three saves (six opportunities), 54 strikeouts (over 42 innings) and a 2.14 ERA.
And of his four seasons in the minors, the 6-foot pitcher registered a double-digit K/9 ratio three times.
(The Nevada native missed the 2013 season, the result of having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.)
Kurcz's career marks in the minors include: 13-11 record, a 2.81 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and respectable 265/94 K-BB ratio (spanning 202 innings).
Citing four MLB seasons with the Braves (2011-14), Varvaro was a productive asset in the bullpen, posting a sub-3.00 ERA three times and thrice notching a K/9 rate above 8.0, as well.
The right-hander's best campaign subjectively occurred in 2014, when Varvaro collected career-high tallies with ERA (2.63), strikeouts (50) and walks per 9 innings (2.1).
