The Pittsburgh Pirates bolstered their bullpen for the stretch drive on Thursday, acquiring Detroit Tigers closer Joakim Soria for minor league infielder JaCoby Jones, the teams announced.
Pirates acquire Joakim Soria from Tigers
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
The trade was first reported by James Schmehl of MLive.com and Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Soria is 3-1 with a 2.85 ERA in 43 appearances in 2015, with 36 strikeouts and 11 walks in 41 innings for the Tigers. The right-hander has converted 23 of 26 save opportunities this season, though he has also allowed eight home runs.
Soria joins an already-strong relief corps in Pittsburgh, which ranks second among National League bullpens in ERA (2.71) and third in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.91).
Pirates closer Mark Melancon has a 1.32 ERA and leads the National League with 32 saves, with 33 strikeouts and 10 walks in 47⅔ innings.
The 31-year-old Soria is under contract for $7 million in 2015, with roughly $2.5 million remaining the rest of the season. Soria will be a free agent after 2015.
Soria is the second free-agent-to-be traded by the Tigers on Thursday. Detroit sent pitcher David Price to the Toronto Blue Jays for three minor league players on Thursday morning.
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