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Rangers acquire former All-Star Odorizzi from Braves
Former Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi. Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Rangers acquire former All-Star SP Jake Odorizzi from Braves

On Wednesday, the Atlanta Braves traded former All-Star starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi to the Texas Rangers. 

In a mutually beneficial deal, the Braves shed some salary, which they can spend this offseason, while the Rangers, in desperate pitching, add a steady veteran presence at a discounted price. 

A 2019 All-Star, this season Odorizzi finished 6-6 with a 4.40 ERA in 22 starts with the Braves and Houston Astros. While Odorizzi isn't likely to solve all of the Rangers' pitching needs, he's proven to be a solid, reliable middle-of-the-rotation arm.  

The Braves will reportedly pay $10M of the $12.5 owed to Odorizzi in 2023, cutting $2.5M off their books. On top of their salary savings, the Braves acquired pitcher Kolby Allard from the Rangers, a former first-round pick of the Braves. This season, the 25-year-old left-hander went 1-2 with a 7.29 ERA in 10 games for the Rangers.

While the Braves are looking to free-up money, the Rangers may be looking to spend even more after landing Odorizzi. Rangers' general manager Chris Young recently called starting pitching the team's "number one priority" this offseason. And according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, they're "waiting patiently" on word from Los Angeles Dodgers starter and Texas native Clayton Kershaw's camp.

"If he ever were to have interest in a situation where he's able to pitch at home, have his kids there at home, growing up in the Dallas, Fortworth area, that could be appealing from the Kershaw families' standpoint," Morosi said.

Mike Santa Barbara

Mike Santa Barbara is a Wilmington, Delaware native (Yes, it's a real place) with over a decade of sports writing experience. A diehard Philadelphia sports fan, he has two dogs named after Flyers and cried real tears when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. You can follow him on Twitter at @mike__sb

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