SAN DIEGO — The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired left-handed reliever Antonio Bastardo from the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday for minor league lefty Joely Rodriguez.
The 29-year-old Bastardo went 5-7 with a 3.94 ERA this year with the Phillies. He struck out 81 and walked 34 in 64 innings. In six big league seasons — all with the Phillies — he is 20-18 with a 3.72 ERA. He has 324 strikeouts in 259 innings.
The Pirates were searching for left-handed bullpen help after sending Justin Wilson to the New York Yankees for catcher Francisco Cervelli last month.
"We had Antonio profiled very high on our list of potential bullpen acquisitions, watched him over the years," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said at the winter meetings. "Gives us a second left-hander in the bullpen, and not just a left on left specialist, somebody who can cut through some right handers."
Bastardo made $2 million this year and is the 12th Pirates player that is arbitration eligible. He can be a free agent after next season.
A starter, the 23-year-old Rodriguez pitched at Double-A this season. He was named an Arizona Fall League top prospect Wednesday.
"It’s a good day. It’s a hard day," Hurdle said. "Julio is one of our own. We’ve grown him up. He’s a young, good looking left-handed pitcher, Dominican kid that we all love. And to get something that was always yours, you’ve got to give up something."
