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The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Detroit Tigers closer Joakim Soria in exchange for shortstop JaCoby Jones, according to the Tigers Twitter account.
The Pirates bullpen just got even stronger than it already was. Tony Watson and Jared Huges have company now as they bridge games between the starters and closer Mark Melancon.
The #Tigers today have acquired SS JaCoby Jones from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for RHP Joakim Soria.
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 30, 2015
Soria has 23 saves in 26 chances with a 2.85 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 36/11 K/BB ratio over 41 innings on the season. It's his first full season as a closer since his All-Star season with the Kansas City Royals in 2010. He's made two All-Star teams with 201 career saves.
He did not start this season as the closer because the role was supposed to belong to Joe Nathan. Unfortunately for the 40-year-old, he had to undergo Tommy John surgery less than a month into the 2015 season. Soria stepped in and did a very solid job this season, which means Pittsburgh can use him in virtually any role out of the bullpen. He won’t be the closer in Pittsburgh but he’ll be able make it easier for starting pitchers to get the wins.
