The Arizona Diamondbacks suddenly have an open spot in their starting rotation with the start of the season on Monday.
On Thursday evening, the D’Backs traded starting pitcherTrevor Cahilland cash considerations to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor league outfielderJosh Elander.
The trade is done for#DbacksTrevor Cahill + cash considerations to ATL for OF Josh Elander
— Steve Gilbert (@SteveGilbertMLB)April 3, 2015
Cahill headed elsewhere is certainly no surprise, although the timing of the move may be. His name has been brought up in trade discussionsplenty this springand a deal finally went down.
Arizona will save some money in the trade, something that you should expect to see them do over the coming months ahead. The D’Backs will pay $6.5 million of Cahill’s $12 million salary for the upcoming season. There are options on his contract for both the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
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Acquired by the D’Backs from the Oakland Athletics back in December of 2011, Cahill was a disappointment in his time in a D’Backs uniform.
He had a solid first season in the desert, posting an ERA of 3.78, but his ERA went up each of the last two years (3.99 in 2013 and 5.61 in 2014). He was so bad last season that then managerKirk Gibsontook him out of the rotation and placed him in the bullpen, where Cahill pitched a little bit better, but no where near the caliber of his contract.
Cahill heading to Atlanta now opens up a spot in the D’Backs rotation. With the spring he’s had, it makes sense for prized prospectArchie Bradleyto grab that spot.
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As for the guy the D’Backs acquired in the trade, he doesn’t appear to be anything special. Drafted in the sixth round of the 2012 draft, Elander has a .275 batting average with 21 home runs and 133 RBI in 208 career games in the minors.
With how much depth Arizona has not only in the majors, but in the minor leagues as well, it’s hard to see Elander making any sort of impact any time soon, if ever.
What this deal was all about was getting rid of Cahill at all costs. Sure, they had to pay a little more than 50 percent of his salary for the coming season, but this organization no longer has to worry about his inconsistent pitching every fifth day and more importantly, it opens up a spot in the rotation for a youngster.
Rejoice D’Backs fans.
Next: D'Backs Final Spring Training Battles
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