Atlanta Braves trade Anthony Varvaro to Boston for Aaron Kurcz

Just a couple of days day after the Atlanta Braves designated Anthony Varvaro for assignment, it has been announced that Varvaro has been traded to the Boston Red Sox, in exchange for minor league bullpen pitcher Aaron Kurcz.

Kurcz spent the entirety of 2014 with the Sox’ AA affiliate in Portland, Maine, and went 3-2 in 34 appearances and 42.0 innings pitched. He had a 2.14 ERA – his first sub-3.00 since his first year in the minors – and struck out 54 men as opposed to walking 22. He missed the 2013 year due to Tommy John Surgery. Kurcz was an 11th round draft pick by the Cubs in the 2010 drat and came straight from high school, and was acquired by the Red Sox as the “player to be named later,” as a part of the Theo Epstein going to Chicago deal. The Red Sox also got Chris Carpenter out of that deal.

He also spent his fall participating in the Arizona Fall League with the Surprise Suragos, getting credit with one win in 14 innings pitched and a 3.86 ERA. Scouting reports say he has a mid-90’s fast ball and a breaking ball that can hit 80 that can “generate a lot of swings and misses,” and is projected to be a sixth or seventh inning guy if he makes it to the show.

This move is just another step forward in the rebuilding mode for the Braves. The Sox are getting a 3.18 career-ERA and one of the few arms the Braves could actually trust this past season when things got rocky. Farewell and good luck, Anthony. And hopefully the future is bright for Kurcz with the Braves.