The Pirates announced on Friday that they have traded right-handed reliever Edgar Santana to the Braves for cash considerations. Santana was optioned to the alternate training site.
Santana, 29, was designated for assignment on Monday, when the Pirates acquired right-hander Kyle Keller from the Angels.
Santana fared well with the Pirates in 2017-18, recording a 3.31 ERA with 74 strikeouts to 24 walks in 84 1/3 innings. However, just before the ‘19 season began, the Dominican native required Tommy John surgery.
Santana’s return to baseball was further stalled by an 80-game suspension for testing positive for Boldenone in June 2020 in violation of MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. He served 60 games of that suspension in ‘20, and he will need to serve the 20 remaining games this season.
Santana pitched in Spring Training in 2021 as he tried to work his way back to the Majors, but to very mixed results. He tossed three scoreless appearances to begin the spring, then allowed eight runs over the next three outings.
The Pirates’ bullpen is one of the few spots on the depth chart that is crowded at the moment, with top prospects like Miguel Yajure, Roansy Contreras and Wil Crowe and veterans like Chasen Shreve blocked out for the time being.