Though Jimmy Rollins’ trade to the Dodgers is the big news of the day, the Phillies have also dealt reliever Antonio Bastardo to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for 23-year-old LHP Joely Rodriguez.
According to Pittsburgh Sporting News, “Rodriguez went 6-11 with 4.84 ERA in Double-A last year and was the Arizona Fall League’s All-Prospect team this year.” Rodriguez’s best year in the minors came in 2013, when he put up solid numbers in A and A+ ball:
A: 5-5-0, 2.72 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 72.2 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 7.1 K/9
A+: 4-3-0, 2.67 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 67.1 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 5.9 K/9
Rodriguez regressed a bit in 2014, but is still seen as a power thrower who pitches into ground balls and who just turned 23-years-old.