It's Official: Braves Deal Estrada

Courtesy of the Atlanta Braves Public Relations Department:

Braves Strike Deal With Diamondbacks
Atlanta acquires right-handed pitchers Lance Cormier and Oscar Villarreal

        DALLAS, Texas - The Atlanta Braves announced today that they have acquired right-handed pitchers Lance Cormier and Oscar Villarreal from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for catcher Johnny Estrada.

        Cormier, 25, opened the 2005 season with Tucson (AAA) before being promoted to Arizona for the remainder of the season on April 11. He went 7-3 with a 5.11 ERA in 67 games covering 79.1 innings pitched. He ranked seventh in the National League in innings pitched among relievers and his seven wins ranked fourth among NL relievers. He appeared in 17 games in 2004 with Arizona and has a career record of 8-7 with a 6.21 ERA in 84 games, including five starts, in 124.2 innings pitched. Cormier was Arizona's fourth-round selection in the 2002 June draft.

        Villarreal, 24, went 2-0 with a 5.27 ERA in 11 relief appearances for the Diamondbacks in 2005. He was promoted from Tucson on April 9, but was placed on the disabled list from April 11 to September 2 with a rotator cuff strain. Villarreal made 11 rehabilitation appearances with Tucson, going 0-3 with a 5.63 ERA in that span before going back to the majors. Over his three-year career, he is 12-9 with a 3.47 ERA in 114 games. He has walked just 59 batters and struck out 102 in 129.2 innings pitched.  As a rookie in 2003, Villarreal set a major league record with 86 appearances and led all rookies with a 2.57 ERA.

        Estrada hit .261 with four home runs and 39 RBI in 105 games with the Braves in 2005. The 2004 All-Star is a .273 career hitter in his three-plus years of service time. He joined the Braves on December 17, 2003, in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies for right-handed pitcher Kevin Millwood.