The Atlanta Braves improved their rotation on Thursday, acquiring former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Trevor Cahill in a trade.
The Braves tweeted news of the deal that will send minor league outfielder Josh Elander to Arizona in exchange for Cahill and cash considerations.
Cahill, 27, is coming off a cataclysmic 2014 season and was even demoted to Triple-A at one point. In all, he went 3-12 with a 5.61 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 105 strikeouts in 110.2 innings pitched and 17 starts.
It was his worst season as a Diamondback, though in his three seasons in Arizona, he’s never been able to replicate his excellent 2010 campaign with the Oakland Athletics, when he finished 18-8 with a 2.97 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 118 strikeouts in 196.2 innings.
Despite being named to Arizona’s starting rotation earlier in the week, according to Nick Piecoro of AZCentral.com, the team clearly didn’t find him to be a vital member of the pitching staff, especially with top prospect Archie Bradley waiting in the wings.
Still, Cahill should have plenty of years of solid pitching in front of him, and in both 2011 and 2012, he was an innings-eater who exceeded 200 innings pitched. If he can rejuvenate his career in a new setting, he could end up being a nice piece for Atlanta’s rotation at a bargain-bin price.
Perhaps a change of scenery will be just what the doctor ordered.
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