The Pittsburgh Pirates traded Edgar Santana to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations Friday, four days after designating the right-handed reliever for assignment.
Santana, 29, was 3-4 with a 3.31 ERA and 1.198 WHIP in 88 relief appearances over two seasons. He underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2018 and missed the following season while recovering.
Santana received an 80-game suspension for testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug Boldenone, violating MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, and missed the 2020 season. That punishment was reduced to time served for the 60-game season.
After allowing eight earned runs on 10 hits, including two home runs, with eight strikeouts and one walk in 6 2/3 innings over seven appearances this spring, Santana was optioned to the alternate training site to start the season. He was designated for assignment Monday to clear room on the 40-man roster for reliever Kyle Keller, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels.
