After designating him for assignment earlier this week, the Pirates traded Edgar Santana to the Braves Firday for cash considerations.

Santana, 29, was at the Pirates alternate training site in Pittsburgh after failing to make the opening day roster. While he started strong in spring, he stumbled towards the end and was eventually optioned. He allowed eight runs over 6 2/3 innings.

Santana was once one of the Pirates’ most promising young relievers, making a good major league cameo before breaking out in 2018, pitching to a 3.36 ERA over 66 1/3 innings.

The Pirates tried to manage his innings later in the year, but it did not work and he needed to undergo Tommy John surgery in September of 2018, which forced him to miss all of the following year.

When he returned in spring 2020, he picked up right where he left off before the COVID-19 shutdown. He was busted for Boldenone, a performance enhancing substance, shortly before summer camp started last July, and had to sit out the entire season. While his suspension was for 80 games, the final 20 were waived since he missed the entire 60-game season.

The Pirates designated him for assignment Monday after acquiring Angels reliever Kyle Keller for cash considerations. Keller was immediately optioned to the alternate site.

“I think with the fact that he hadn't pitched in the last two years and we were able to get Keller, he just became the casualty of it,” Derek Shelton said about Santana Monday.

In his Pirates career, Santana had a 3.31 ERA over 88 appearances and 84 1/3 innings.

Keller will turn 28 on April 28. The Angels designated him for assignment on April 1 after he allowed five earned runs over 7 1/3 innings pitched this spring. He has one option year remaining.

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