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| Tommy Hanson is headed to the AL West. (US Presswire) |
The Angels have traded for Braves right-hander Tommy Hanson, CBSSports.com Insider Jon Heyman reports. The Braves will get reliever Jordan Walden, according to CBSSports.com senior writer Danny Knobler.
Hanson, 26, was 13-10 with a 4.48 ERA in 31 starts for the Braves last season. As a rookie in 2009, he won his first five decisions and started the season 9-2, finishing 11-4 with a 2.89 ERA and third in Rookie of the Year voting. Overall, he's gone 45-32 with a 3.61 ERA in four seasons, but seen his velocity drop over the last two seasons.
Hanson missed the final two months of the 2011 season with shoulder troubles and suffered with back pain in 2012. He is arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason and could make as much as $4 million in 2013, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman. Not only does moving Hanson make room in the team's budget, he also makes room in the rotation for heralded prospects Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado in the team's rotation.
Walden, 25, was an All-Star as the team's closer in 2011, recording 32 saves. Last season, though, he had just one save with a 3.46 ERA in 45 appearances. With Craig Kimbrel entrenched as the Braves' closer, Walden will likely serve in a set-up role, probably in the sixth and seventh innings.
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