The Tampa Bay Rays completed the trade with Atlanta for Rafael Soriano on Friday, signing the right-handed closer for $7.25 million.
As was reported Thursday, the Rays gave up right-handed pitcher Jesse Chavez, whom they acquired Nov. 3 from the Pittsburgh Pirates for second baseman Akinori Iwamura.
Andrew Friedman, the Rays' executive vice president of baseball, wouldn't comment on how this deal would affect any potention Pat Burrell-for-Milton Bradley trade or the players who might be offered arbitration by Saturday's midnight deadline.
Soriano, who turns 30 on Dec. 19, established career highs last season in saves (27 in 31 attempts), innings pitched (75 2/3), appearances (77) and strikeouts (102) while issuing only 27 walks. Among all major league relief pitchers in 2009, he ranked second in strikeouts (behind Jonathan Broxton of the Los Angeles Dodgers), third with 12.13 strikeouts per nine innings, 10th in appearances and first with a .138 (20-for-145) opponents' batting average against right-handed hitters.
Overall, Soriano held opponents to a .194 (53-for-273) batting average, 12th lowest in the National League, and .153 (17-for-111) average with runners on base, fourth lowest in the majors.
An eight-year major league veteran with the Braves (2007-09) and Seattle Mariners (2002-06), Soriano has a career 2.92 ERA and has amassed 365 strikeouts in 332 2/3 innings. He has held opponents to a .199 batting average, including a .168 mark against right-handed hitters.
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