The Atlanta Braves have traded for Astros starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi and Tigers outfielder Robbie Grossman.
According to Mark Berman of FOX 36 in Houston, the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros have come together with a 1-for-1 deal involving former All-Stars. The Astros will send starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi to the Braves in exchange for reliever Will Smith.
The Braves have also acquired outfielder Robbie Grossman from the Tigers, according to Joel Sherman of The New York Post. Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports that it’s for minor league pitcher Kris Anglin.
Braves acquire Jake Odorizzi from Astros, Robbie Grossman from Tigers
Jake Odorizzi had been a name that had been mentioned as target for the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday but, since, the Cardinals traded for Pirates starter José Quintana. So the Braves traded for him in exchange for Will Smith.
On the season, Odorizzi has struggled a bit. In 2022, he has only made 11 starts and he has a 4.25 ERA (92 ERA+). He is averaging less than five innings per start with a career-low strikeout rate (6.5 K/9). He is also a free agent at the end of this season.
Will Smith (not the actor and not the catcher for the Dodgers) has had a rough season too. In 41 appearances, he has a 4.38 ERA but he has actually had good luck with that ERA (5.23 FIP). He is averaging 10 strikeouts per nine innings (which is a good rate) but he’s also averaging 5.1 walks and 1.7 home runs per nine innings.
In 2021, Smith was one of the better relief pitchers in the game as he had a 3.44 ERA in 71 games, an MLB leading 60 games finished, and 37 saves. Unlike Odorizzi, Smith has a team option for $13 million next season so the Astros could decide to exercise that.
Both Odorizzi and Smith were All-Stars in 2019.
Grossman has struggled with the Tigers this season. In 83 games, he has hit .205/.313/.282 with an OPS+ of 73. However, he has been a high on-base guy in the past, as he had a .354 OBP from 2017 through 2021.
Anglin was drafted in the 16th round of the 2021 Draft. Between Rookie-ball and Single-A this season, he has a 4.64 ERA in 17 games (11 starts).