Orioles Trade Left-hander Tommy Milone to Braves

The Atlanta Braves made a trade today, the Braves received left-hander Tommy Milone from the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles will receive two players, who will be named later.

Milone should help the Braves stabilize their struggling rotation. The 10-year veteran has 1-4 record with 31 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings and a 3.99 ERA in six starts this season. The Braves rotation has had some hard hits this season with injuries and inconsistencies.

Milone has pitched for Oakland, Minnesota, Milwaukee, the Mets, and Seattle. He broke into the big leagues in 2011 with the Nationals. Milone's career record is 51-51 with a 4.45 ERA.

Braves General Manager Alex Anthopoulos admitted that it may be tough to find another deal.

"There's not a lot of sellers out there. With the expanded playoffs, even the teams that are on the outside looking in are close. We didn't want to wait around. If a deal made sense to us, we wanted to go ahead and do it," said Anthopoulos.

The Braves lost their ace pitcher Mike Soroka after he tore his right Achilles tendon playing against the New York Mets. Newcomer Cole Hamels has not pitched any innings this season. Hamels has been dealing with a sore left shoulder since the spring. Former All-Star Mike Foltynewicz and Sean Newcomb where demoted from their starting positions. Felix Hernandez, former American League Cy young winner, opted out of the 2020 season because COVID-19 concerns.

Hamels is making progress and could join later in the season said Anthopoulos. Hamels was scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Sunday.

"He's moving in the right direction. We feel like he's turned a corner," said the general manager.

Milone will make his first start for Atlanta Sunday night at Philadelphia.