The San Diego Padres have acquired right-handed reliever Shawn Kelley from the New York Yankees in exchange for minor-league right-handed pitcher Johnny Barbato, according to Robert Murray of MLB Daily Rumors.
There is some buzz that the #Yankees just acquired RHP Johnny Barbato from the #Padres. — Robert Murray (@RobertMurrayDR) December 29, 2014
Source: RHP Shawn Kelley traded to the #Padres in Barbato deal. #Yankees — Robert Murray (@RobertMurrayDR) December 29, 2014
This move by the Yankees shows us that they are comfortable with bullpen arms like Jacob Lindgren, Nick Rumbelow and other young arms. Even with an above-average performance in 2014, the Yankees’ faith in their young guns made the 30-year-old hardly irreplaceable.
In 31 appearances for the Yankees during the 2014 campaign, Kelley put up a 3-6 record, along with a 4.53 ERA, four saves and a 11.7 K/9 ratio, over 51 and 2/3 innings pitched out of the bullpen.
The player the Yankees acquired in exchange for Kelley is 22-year-old Johnny Barbato. The right-hander has played in four seasons of organized minor-league ball with the Padres, compiling a career 12-13 record, along with a 3.79 ERA in 249 and 2/3 innings pitched over 139 games (20 starts).
While with the Padres’ Double-A affiliate in San Antonio, Barbato accumulated a 2-2 record, along with a 2.87 ERA and a 9.5 K/9 in 31 and 1/3 innings pitched over 27 games out of the bullpen.
Pinstriped Prospects provided an in-depth report on Barbato.
He has velocity – reaching 97 with a fastball that sits at 94 out of the bullpen. Barbato also throws a knuckle-curve that has picked up strikeouts – his career strikeout/walk ratio is 256-105. He also throws a decent changeup.
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