D-backs acquire pitcher Matt Andriese from Tampa Bay
Jul 25, 2018, 2:57 PM | Updated: 5:42 pm
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Matt Andriese throws to a Baltimore Orioles batter during the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader Saturday, May 12, 2018, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired right-handed pitcher Matt Andriese from the Tampa Bay Rays, the team announced Wednesday.
In return, the D-backs will send minor league pitcher Brian Shaffer and catcher Michael Perez to the Rays. To make room for Andriese on the 40-man roster, the D-backs designated reliever Randall Delgado for assignment.
“It was our goal to try and acquire some pitching here at the deadline,” general manager Mike Hazen said on a conference call Wednesday.
Andriese, 28, has a 4.07 ERA in 27 appearances for the Rays. That includes four starts, as Andriese has been one of the long relievers used in Tampa Bay’s unconventional approach of occasionally starting relievers.
“We feel like he helps our bullpen out in the short-term,” Hazen said. “We feel like he may have the opportunity to start in the future, so we felt like three years of a pitcher that can get righties and lefties out would be a good addition.”
In the last two seasons, Andriese was used as a starting pitcher by Tampa Bay before moving into a bullpen role this season.
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He has thrown 59.2 innings this season, including a recent 3.2-inning scoreless performance on Monday against the Yankees in which Andriese followed reliever Hunter Wood’s start that lasted two innings.
The D-backs were reportedly in the hunt for relievers, showing interest in former Baltimore Orioles reliever Zach Britton before he was traded to the New York Yankees.
The 28-year-old Delgado was in his sixth season with the D-backs. He was used in a relief role in his last five seasons, most recently dealing with injuries the last two seasons. Delgado had his most effective season in 2015 when he threw 72.0 innings for a 3.25 ERA over 64 appearances. In six appearances this season, Delgado had a 5.14 ERA.
Shaffer, a sixth-round pick by the D-backs in 2017, has a 2.70 ERA in 19 starts for the Single-A Kane County Cougars. He was ranked as the 23rd best Arizona prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Perez, 25, has a .284 batting average with Triple-A Reno. He was originally drafted in the fifth round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the D-backs.
