The Boston Red Sox have acquired right-hander Zeke Spruill in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks, sending RHP Myles Smith to the Valley of the Sun, per a Diamondbacks announcement.
The 25-year-old Spruill has posted just 34 big league innings over the past two seasons, pitching to a 4.24 ERA in three starts and nine relief appearances. He had been a full-time starting pitcher in the minors until last year, when the Diamondbacks organization transitioned him into a swingman. He posted a troubling 6.14 ERA at the Triple-A level, up nearly three full runs over his previous two minor-league seasons.
However, his strikeout rate improved majorly to 8.2 K/9 (with just 2.3 BB/9).
Per Alex Speier of WEEI.com, for the Red Sox, the decision to part with Myles Smith was likely due to control issues that cropped up in single-A ball last year:
Myles Smith is a deeper projection, athletic RHP with a very live arm. 2013 4th rounder. Didn't show control/command in A-ball...
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) December 13, 2014
However, offloading Smith could prove costly if he gets his control in order and is natural athletic gifts begin to shine through...
... But Smith hasn't been pitching long and throws hard.
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) December 13, 2014
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