Atlanta Braves Trade For and Bring Back Left-Handed Pitcher Eric O’Flaherty

On Sunday morning, Ken Rosenthal first reported that the Atlanta Braves have acquired left-handed pitcher Eric O’Flaherty through a trade.  O’Flaherty was playing for the Pittsburg Pirates, but wasn’t expected to make the Opening Day roster for them.  The Braves gave the Pirates cash for the lefty.

He was signed to a minor league deal with the Pirates and this move probably shows that he wasn’t going to make the team out of Spring Training.  In the 2016 Spring Training, O’Flaherty appeared in ten games, he threw 9.1 innings, allowing eight runs(three earned) on 15 hits and two walks, with eight strikeouts.

The 31-year-old was a part of the Braves in 2009 through 2013.  He was a huge part of Atlanta’s bullpen through these years.  In 2013, he was shut down for the season because he had to have Tommy John surgery.   He has battled injuries over the past couple of years, totaling 40 appearances between 2013 and 2014.

In 2015, he played for the Oakland Athletics as well as the New York Mets.

The Braves have been searching for a second left-handed pitcher for their bullpen and could have found a decent pitcher to be slotted into this role.

These 2016 Braves are truly feeling like they’re going back to the “Braves Way”…of the a few years ago.  Many names are back with the Braves – Kelly Johnson, Jeff Francoeur, Eric O’Flaherty, Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones are back as coaches, relief pitcher David Carpenter came back for a little while.

O’Flaherty will be added to the Braves 25-man roster and will likely get his first appearance on Monday.