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Pittsburgh Pirates acquire starter J.A. Happ from Seattle Mariners
CINCINNATI -- The Pittsburgh Pirates didn't enter the final 24 hours before the trade deadline looking for a starting pitcher. The state of A.J. Burnett's elbow quickly made them change their mind.
The Pirates acquired veteran left-hander J.A. Happ from Seattle on Friday as a stopgap -- and possibly more -- after Burnett complained of elbow pain and was placed on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation following his third straight bumpy outing.
Pittsburgh sent minor league pitcher Adrian Sampson to the Mariners.
The start of the stretch run will begin without Burnett, who made the All-Star team for the first time in his 17-year career this summer but has struggled over the last two weeks. The 38-year-old gave up 10 hits, two walks and eight runs -- seven earned -- in 4 1/3 innings in the series opener. The Reds also stole four bases off Burnett, whose velocity was down at the start of the game.
General manager Neal Huntington said Burnett complained of some elbow soreness following the game, which "directly influenced" the pursuit of Happ. The 32-year-old left-hander went 4-6 with a 4.64 ERA in 20 starts and one relief appearance for Seattle this season. Happ will take Burnett's turn in the rotation and Huntington didn't rule out keeping Happ there whenever Burnett returns.
"He's a guy we've actually liked for a handful of years," Huntington said.
The Pirates acquired veteran left-hander J.A. Happ from Seattle on Friday as a stopgap -- and possibly more -- after Burnett complained of elbow pain and was placed on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation following his third straight bumpy outing.
Pittsburgh sent minor league pitcher Adrian Sampson to the Mariners.
The start of the stretch run will begin without Burnett, who made the All-Star team for the first time in his 17-year career this summer but has struggled over the last two weeks. The 38-year-old gave up 10 hits, two walks and eight runs -- seven earned -- in 4 1/3 innings in the series opener. The Reds also stole four bases off Burnett, whose velocity was down at the start of the game.
General manager Neal Huntington said Burnett complained of some elbow soreness following the game, which "directly influenced" the pursuit of Happ. The 32-year-old left-hander went 4-6 with a 4.64 ERA in 20 starts and one relief appearance for Seattle this season. Happ will take Burnett's turn in the rotation and Huntington didn't rule out keeping Happ there whenever Burnett returns.
"He's a guy we've actually liked for a handful of years," Huntington said.