The Cleveland Guardians have added a fresh arm to their pitching staff, acquiring right-hander Cody Bolton from the Seattle Mariners, according to Cleveland.com. The trade, an exchange for cash considerations, comes as the Guardians hope to improve their 3-6 start to the season. The trade was announced right before their home opener against Chicago.
Bolton, who is 26 years old and has had stints with both the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Mariners, finds a new home in Cleveland's farm system as he was optioned to Triple-A Columbus following the announcement of his arrival; this is a move that comes just days after Seattle designated him for assignment – the Mariners had brought up Jesse Hahn to fill in the spot on their roster. Sports Illustrated reports that in his previous outings Bolton posted less than stellar numbers, with a 6.33 ERA in his rookie season and a 4.34 ERA last year with the Mariners, such figures might raise eyebrows, but in the unpredictable world of baseball, a change of scenery can sometimes be just the catalyst a player needs.
To accommodate Bolton on their 40-man roster, the Guardians moved left-handed pitcher John Means to the 60-day injured list as he recovers from elbow surgery. This part of the maneuver was necessary because roster spots are a zero-sum game; one in means one out. Yardbarker reported that the details concerning the cash considerations involved in the deal have not been disclosed yet.
The Guardians, sitting two and a half games back in the American League Central, are likely looking for any potential upside as they navigate through the early part of the season while the Mariners, who designated Bolton for assignment April 5, are making their own adjustments after a less than stellar start of 4-7 in the American League West. Cleveland clearly values what Bolton could bring to the table; as he managed a 3.07 ERA in the minors last season with a decent strikeout count, showing that while the major league figures might lack sheen, there is talent there in a 26-year-old arm that could maybe, just maybe, be harnessed with a bit of Guardians' magic.
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