The cold stove is beginning to warm up slightly with two relievers getting traded on Thursday afternoon.
Veteran right-hander Jim Johnson has been traded from the Atlanta Braves to the Los Angeles Angels in return for left-handed minor league pitcher Justin Kelly. The Angels will also receive an undisclosed amount of international pool money.
Johnson, 34, struggled in 2017 when he posted a 5.56 ERA, 4.22 FIP, 3.97 BB/9 and a career-low 48.5 groundball percentage. He is under control for the 2018 at $5 million.
The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired right-handed reliever Brad Boxberger from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor league pitcher Curtis Taylor.
Boxberger, 29, pitched only 29.1 innings for the Rays in 2017 but was effective with a 3.38 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 12.3 K/9. He missed a large portion of the season with lat and forearm injuries.
The right-handed Boxberger led the league with 41 saves in 2015 and was an all-star that year. Her is arbitration eligible this offseason and is expected to make $1.9 million in 2018.
