Red Sox acquire Burke Badenhop from Brewers

The Boston Red Sox have acquired reliever Burke Badehop from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for minor league left-hander Luis Ortega, according to a team announcement.

Badenhop, who is entering his age-31 season, was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA, 6.1 K/9 and 1.7 BB/9 in 62.1 innings of work out of Milwaukee's bullpen in 2013 after being acquired from the Rays in December. His stats were nearly identical to those of his 2012 campaign with Tampa Bay, in which he was 2-3 with a 3.03 ERA in 62.1 innings. In both seasons, Badenhop pitched 62.1 innings, surrendering six home runs and twelve walks while striking out 42 batters. He allowed one more hit in 2013 than he did in 2012, and surrendered three more earned runs,

In six major league seaons with the Marlins (2008-2011), Rays (2012) and Brewers (2013), Badenhop has posted a lifetime 18-20 record and 3.98 ERA in 280 appearances (270 in relief). He will likely slot into the Red Sox bullpen in 2014, joining a core that helped the team win the World Series in 2013.

Ortega, 20, was signed by Boston as an international free agent in 2011. He appeared in twelve games in rookie ball last season, posting a 3-3 record and 2.45 ERA in 36.2 innings of work. In 96 innings over his first two seasons in the Sox' system, Ortega was 9-6 with a 2.25 ERA in 25 games (14 starts). The 5'10", 155 lb. southpaw was not ranked among the top sixty Red Sox prospects on SoxProspects.com.