KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Pittsburgh Pirates took advantage of Atlanta's surplus of right-handed relievers by acquiring Tyler Yates in a two-player trade on Wednesday.
The Braves obtained minor league starting pitcher Todd Redmond in the deal.
Yates was 1-0 with a 9.00 ERA in nine games this spring after posting a 5.18 ERA in 75 games last season.
The Braves were looking for a trade because four relievers competing for roster spots Yates, Blaine Boyer, Chris Resop and left-hander Royce Ring are out of options.
Boyer has a 2.08 ERA this spring with 11 strikeouts in 13 innings. Resop has a 2.45 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 11 innings.
``They have a couple of guys out of options, Resop and Boyer, who have really thrown the ball well for them this spring and, as a result, they had extra pitching and we benefited from that,'' said Pittsburgh general manager Neal Huntington.
If Braves starter John Smoltz opens the season on the disabled list as expected, the Braves now could have room in their bullpen for Boyer, Resop and Ring with Rafael Soriano, Peter Moylan, Manny Acosta, Will Ohman and Jeff Bennett.
Yates, 30, probably would not have made Atlanta's 25-man roster. ``We were in a predicament and we got a nice prospect,'' said Bravew manager Bobby Cox. ``It's good for them, good for us.''
Yates talked with Huntington after the trade and said he was told he could be an important part of Pittsburgh's bullpen.
``They said they're excited to have me and I could pitch myself into a very prominent role in the bullpen,'' Yates said. ``I think it could be a good career move and I could get into a role I feel like I need to be in.''
Redmond, 22, is 22-21 in three minor league seasons. Baseball America rates Redmond (6-3, 213) as having the best control in the Pirates' minor league system. The magazine rated his changeup as the best in the system before last season.
``We sent a young arm we like,'' said Huntington of Redmond, ``but we felt Tyler is a three-plus service guy that could be with us for the next three years and has power.''
Yates has a 6-12 career record with a 5.15 ERA. He was 2-3 with a 5.18 ERA last year. He had a 3.99 ERA before the All-Star break and a 6.83 mark in the second half.
``I felt like last season was two seasons,'' Yates said. ``I felt the first half was a great season and I felt the second half was a disappointment. I don't know what happened in the second half or why it was so different from the first half.
``I did go back and look at a lot of video and the conclusion I came to was I just was behind in the count a lot, 1-0 and 2-0 a lot and having to come over the middle of the plate for strikes. It makes the hitters start sitting on pitches a lot easier. That's one reason I gave up a lot of hits and a lot of runs.''
Yates said he was not surprised to be traded.
``Nobody knew what was going to happen,'' he said. ``Being one of the guys on the bubble, I was hoping to be in Atlanta but looking at the way spring has gone, I just prepared myself and told my wife and my dad don't be surprised if something happens or I get traded.''
Added Yates: ``There's no hard feelings. It's part of the business.''
Saturday
May 3rd, 2025
5:44AM
