Baltimore, MD (SportsNetwork.com) - The Boston Red Sox continued Thursday's trade-deadline roster purge by sending highly-coveted reliever Andrew Miller to division-rival Baltimore in exchange for pitching prospect Eduardo Rodriguez.
The move comes after the 2013 World Series champions pulled off a pair of blockbuster trades earlier in the day. Boston shipped staff ace Jon Lester along with outfielder Jonny Gomes to Oakland for All-Star slugger Yoenis Cespedes, then moved veteran hurler John Lackey to St. Louis for outfielder/first baseman Allen Craig and right-hander Joe Kelly.
Miller, a free agent at season's end, had emerged as one of the most sought- after bullpen arms at the deadline with a dominant first half. The hard- throwing lefty has allowed just 25 hits while striking out 69 batters over 42 1/3 innings of work this season.
The 29-year-old also was a key contributor to last year's championship run for Boston, posting a 2.64 ERA over 37 appearances and fanning 48 in 30 2/3 innings pitched.
Since becoming a full-time reliever in 2012, Miller has averaged 13.3 strikeouts per nine innings.
Rodriguez entered the season rated as the Orioles' third-best prospect by Baseball America. The 21-year-old left-hander has compiled a 3-7 record with a 4.79 ERA in 16 starts for Double-A Bowie.
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