Braves and Orioles Complete Two-Player Trade

The Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles have completed a two-player trade in which the Braves have acquired veteran right-handed pitcher Luis Ayala in exchange for minor league left-handed pitcher Chris Jones.  Ayala, 35, is expected to join the Braves in Washington on Friday. Ayala will wear uniform number 48.

Ayala notched a 2.09 ERA in 52 appearances for the New York Yankees in 2011 and appeared in 66 games with the Orioles in 2012, when he posted a 2.64 ERA and had 51 strikeouts in 75.0 innings pitched. He worked in two games for the Orioles this season. 

Over his nine-year career, Ayala has appeared in 497 Major League games, all in relief. He has pitched in 50-or-more games in a season six times in his career and owns a lifetime ERA of 3.37, with 347 strikeouts in 523.1 innings of work. He owns 19 career saves.

Originally signed by the Colorado Rockies in 1999, Ayala made his Major League debut in 2003 with the Montreal Expos.  He has pitched at the Major League level for six different organizations: Montreal/Washington (2003-08), New York Mets (2008), Minnesota Twins (2009), Florida Marlins (2009), New York Yankees (2011) and Baltimore Orioles (2012-13).

Jones, 24, was with the Braves' Double-A Mississippi affiliate in 2012 and 2013.  He was obtained by the Braves from the Cleveland Indians in October 2011 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Derek Lowe.