Reports: Braves trade prospect Salcedo for Pirates minor-league arm Trepagnier

Reports: Braves trade prospect Salcedo for Pirates minor-league arm Trepagnier

Published Feb. 5, 2015 10:03 p.m. ET

The Atlanta Braves' offseason stockpiling of young pitching continued on Thursday night in a prospect swap with the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to multiple reports. The Braves traded former highly rated minor-leaguer Edward Salcedo for 6-foot-5 right-hander Bryton Trepagnier.

Salcedo, 23, was once considered a potential building block for Atlanta's big-league club, ranking among the franchise's top 10 best prospects as recently as 2012 in some publications. At the time of his signing, he was even drawing comparisons to All-Star Hanley Ramirez as a five-tool prospect. However, the 6-foot-3 Dominican Republic native, who signed a franchise-record $1.6 million signing bonus as an international prospect in 2010, switched positions to right field in recent seasons and the bat never really produced.

In his most recent stint with Triple-A Gwinnett, he hit .212/.294/.357 with 10 home runs and 13 stolen bases -- good enough for a 79 weighted runs created plus, where 100 is league average -- in 413 plate appearances.

In return, the Braves land yet another projectable young pitcher to bolster the farm system. Trepagnier, 23, is a former 41st round draft pick by the Pirates whose numbers have shown gradual improvement as he's risen through the system. Though his strikeout and walk rates went in the wrong direction last season, his numbers were solid in High-A ball: nine saves, 2.53 ERA and a 4.16 fielding-independent pitching in 38 appearances. Here's a brief scouting report from Pirates Prospects:

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Overall, this will not likely affect the 2015 product for either team. 

Trepagnier has yet to play in Double-A ball and while Salcedo is a Triple-A talent at the moment, the Pirates outfield is loaded with Andrew McCutchen, Sterling Marte, Josh Harrison and top prospect Gregor Polanco. It provides a change of scenery for Salcedo while giving the Braves another relief arm with upside.

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