Associated PressATLANTA (WRCB) – The Braves and Cubs finalized a four-player trade Monday night that will send pitcher Paul Maholm and outfielder Reed Johnson to Atlanta.
The Braves also received cash considerations from Chicago in exchange for minor-league pitchers Arodys Vizcaino and Jaye Chapman.
Atlanta has been looking to add a quality starter for the past few weeks, and was close to a deal for Cubs' ace Ryan Dempster last week. They'll settle for the next best thing in Maholm, who is 5-0 with an ERA of 1.00 in his last seven starts.
The eighth-year veteran is 9-6 with a 3.74 ERA in 20 starts for the season, and ranks second among active major league lefties in fewest home runs allowed per nine innings.
Johnson is hitting .307 this season as a reserve outfielder. He has 51 hits, including 15 for extra-bases, and 16 RBI in 75 games. He's at his best against left-handed pitchers, batting .313 against lefties since 2003.
Vizcaino is one of the Braves' top overall prospects, but is currently recovering from "Tommy John" surgery after tearing an elbow ligament in April. He made 17 big-league relief appearances last year, going 1-1 with a 4.67 ERA. However, the right-hander's future is as a starter after going 19-15 with a 2.91 ERA in four minor-league seasons.
Chapman, also a right-hander, owns a career record of 17-22 with a 3.95 ERA over seven minor league seasons.
