D-Backs Shore Up Bullpen With Trade For Brad Boxberger

Diamondbacks Get: Brad Boxberger (4-4, 3.38 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 40/11 K/BB, 29.1 IP)

Rays Get: Minor Leaguer Curtis Taylor (3-4, 3.32 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 68/23 K/BB, 62.1 IP at Class A)

The Diamondbacks did well for themselves here, acquiring reliever Brad Boxberger in exchange for a low-level minor league arm. Boxberger has been a bit inconsistent throughout his career as most relievers are, seeing his ERA/WHIP drop as low as 2.37/0.84 in 2014 and jump as high as 4.81/1.73 in 2016. He battled injuries early on in 2017 and was limited to just 30 appearances, but he was effective when on the mound, posting a 3.38 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and a 40/11 strikeout to walk ratio while racking up 5.74 RE24. He'll join Archie Bradley, Andrew Chafin, and Jimmie Sherfy in the back-end of an improving Arizona bullpen not only for this upcoming season, but for 2019 as well. He'll have to be careful about his fly ball rates, which have typically sat in the low forties as a percentage but could really hurt him in a dry air environment like Arizona. For his career, the former USC Trojan is 17-20 with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP over 231 appearances, striking out 297 and walking 113 in 231 innings.

Going back to Tampa Bay is low-level starting pitcher Curtis Taylor, a 6'6" righty drafted out of the University of British Columbia in 2016. After a successful stint in short season ball after he was drafted, Taylor moved on to Class A Kane County in 2017. He more than held his own in the Midwest League, going 3-4 with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP over 13 starts, striking out 68 and walking 23 in 62.1 innings. Unfortunately, shoulder problems ended his season in July, but he's expected to be healthy for 2018. The 22 year old pitches in the mid-90's with a power slider to go along with his sinking fastball, though he does need to improve his changeup and his command if he wants to keep starting. As a reliever, he should be able to hit the upper 90's and add more power to his slider, and he could move quickly if that happens. At 22 and having never pitched above Class A, he's not exactly ahead of the development curve.