Braves trade Tyler Yates to Pittsburgh

The Braves have made their first trade of the spring. The Braves Show's Bill Shanks has more.

In what could be the first trade of the day, the Atlanta Braves have dealt reliever Tyler Yates to the Pittsburgh Pirates for minor league pitching prospect Todd Redmond.

Yates had a poor spring for the Braves, posting an ERA of 9.00 in seven games. He allowed seven earned runs on eight hits in six innings, with six walks, and four strikeouts.

Last season Yates pitched in 75 games for the Braves and had a 5.18 ERA. In 2006 Yates had a 3.96 ERA in 56 appearances.

The Braves have been more impressed with Blaine Boyer and Chris Resop this spring, which made Yates expendable.

Todd Redmond was a 39th round pick in the 2004 draft. He signed a year later as a draft and follow out of St. Petersburg Community College. He’s a right-handed pitcher that is six-foot-three, 185 pounds. Redmond turns 23 this May 17th.

Redmond went to the New York Penn league in 2005 and was outstanding, posting a 1.98 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) with 62 hits allowed in 72.2 innings, 63 strikeouts, and 21 walks. He spent the 2006 season in Hickory in the South Atlantic League and was 13-6 with a 2.75 ERA in 27 starts. Redmond allowed 137 hits in 160.1 innings, only 33 walks, and 148 strikeouts.

This past season Redmond started off in the Carolina League and played for Lynchburg. He was 7-12 in 25 starts and posted a 4.54 ERA. Redmond allowed 151 hits in 142.2 innings, with 32 walks, and 95 strikeouts. He was then sent to Double-A and made three starts for Altoona in the Eastern League. Redmond was 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA, 15 hits allowed in 17.1 innings, three walks, and 12 strikeouts.

Redmond has 393 career minor league innings.

Baseball America rated Redmond as the Pirates’ 27th best prospect going into this season. They also rated him as having the best control in the organization in this year’s prospect guide. Last year he was rated as Pittsburgh's tenth best prospect by Baseball America.

Scouting reports have Redmond has having a low-90s fastball with tremendous command. He’s got an outstanding changeup and has a solid curveball. Most reports have him as a potential lower-of-the-rotation starting pitching prospect. Redmond will probably be in the Double-A rotation for the Braves.


Bill Shanks is the author of Scout's Honor: The Bravest Way To Build A Winning Team, a look inside the Braves‘ traditional scouting and player development philosophies. He can be heard on 680 the Fan in Atlanta and 105.5 the Fan in Macon. Email Bill at .