Braves trade Sean Rodriguez back to Pirates for position prospect
In what could be considered Youth Movement Week following the major-league arrivals of prospects Ozzie Albies, Lucas Sims and, most recently, Max Fried, the Atlanta Braves' front office carved out extra playing time for young players by trading veteran utility option Sean Rodriguez to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday afternoon.
The Braves will receive a former first-round pick in return:
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Sean Rodriguez played just 15 games in a Braves uniform after missing most of the season following a Jan. 28 car accident involving his wife and two sons that required shoulder surgery. Following an abbreviated rehab stint in the minors, Rodriguez slashed .162/.326/.351 in 47 plate appearances with two home runs in Atlanta.
Rodriguez enjoyed the best season of his career in 2016 with Pittsburgh, where he spent the two previous seasons before signing a two-year, $11.5 million deal with the Braves in free agency.
The move clears the path for young infielders Ozzie Albies and Johan Camargo to play on a regular basis without relegating Rodriguez to a full-time bench role. The Braves previously moved Brandon Phillips to third base, Freddie Freeman back to first and Matt Adams to left field — for now — in order to play the two promising prospects.
Pittsburgh claimed Rodriguez on waivers, clearing the path for a deal to be made following the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
A University of San Diego product and former college teammate of reigning National League MVP Kris Bryant, Joe was drafted 39th overall in 2014. The 24-year-old is a corner infielder/outfielder prospect currently hitting .240/.338/.380 with five home runs at the Double-A level this season — a trademark buy-low candidate for Atlanta president of baseball operations John Hart and general manager John Coppolella.
