Padres acquire Cory Burns from Indians in exchange for Aaron Cunningham

The San Diego Padres today announced they have acquired right-handed pitcher Cory Burns from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for outfielder Aaron Cunningham.  Executive Vice President/General Manager Josh Byrnes made the announcement.

Burns, 24, went 2-5 with 35 saves in 37 chances, a 2.11 (14 ER/59.2 IP), a .220 (47-for-214) opponents batting average and 70 strikeouts against 15 walks over 54 relief appearances for Double-A Akron in 2011. The right-hander was named MLB.com's Double-A Relief Pitcher of the Year for 2011, as well as a Topps Double-A All-Star. Originally selected by Cleveland in the eighth round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Arizona, he has gone 6-9 with 88 saves, a 2.02 ERA (33 ER/147.1 IP), a .203 (108-for-532) opponents batting average and 188 strikeouts against just 35 walks in 130 relief outings over three minor league seasons (2009-11) in the Indians organization.

Cunningham, 25, hit .178 (16-for-90) with six doubles, one triple, three home runs, nine RBI and 12 runs scored over 52 games for the Padres last season.  The outfielder also hit .329 (112-for-340) with 34 doubles, four triples, nine home runs, 63 RBI and 65 runs scored in 87 games for Triple-A Tucson in 2011.  Originally selected by the Chicago White Sox in the sixth-round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, he has hit .231 (82-for-355) with 27 doubles, three triples, six home runs, 44 RBI and 42 runs scored in 150 games over parts of four Major League seasons with the Oakland Athletics (2008-09) and Padres (2010-11).

With today's transaction, the Padres currently have 39 players on their 40-man roster.