The Rays acquired right-hander Burke Badenhop from the Marlins for minor league catcher Jake Jefferies, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. MLBTR projects Badenhop, 28, would earn approximately $1.1MM through the arbitration process as a first-time eligible player.
Badenhop posted a 4.10 ERA with 7.2 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 63 2/3 innings in 2011. His 58.5% ground ball rate ranked tenth in MLB among pitchers with at least 60 innings this past season. Badenhop has a 4.34 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in parts of four seasons with the Marlins.
The Rays selected Jefferies in the third round of the 2008 draft. The 24-year-old posted a .238/.282/.327 line in 242 plate appearances for two of Tampa Bay's minor league affiliates in 2011 and has a career line of .254/.318/.343 as a professional.
