Red Sox acquire Anthony Varvaro from Braves

The Red Sox have acquired reliever Anthony Varvaro from the Braves in exchange for minor-league right-hander Aaron Kurcz and cash considerations, as first reported by Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. Varvaro was designated for assignment earlier in the week as part of roster-clearing efforts by the Braves.

Varvaro, 30, had a solid season in 2014, posting a 3-3 record and 2.63 ERA in 61 appearances out of the Braves' bullpen. The former twelfth round pick is known as a hard thrower, and has posted a lifetime 3.18 ERA in five major league seasons with the Mariners (2010) and Braves (2011-2014).

Varvaro will likely replace free-agent Burke Badenhop in the Red Sox' bullpen, joining righties Zeke Spruill, Steven Wright, Junichi Tazawa, Edward Mujica and Koji Uehara in a crowded mix for Boston. Varvaro is likely to be guaranteed a spot, and is under team control for four seasons.

Kurcz, 24, spent 2014 with Double-A Portland, posting a 2.14 ERA in 34 appearances. The former Cubs' tenth-round draft pick was acquired as compensation for Theo Epstein, and was ranked by SoxProspects.com as the 40th best prospect in the Red Sox' system.