The Atlanta Braves traded right-handed pitcher Rodrigo Lopez to the Chicago Cubs for left-handed pitcher Ryan Buchter on Thursday.
The Braves signed Lopez to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training this past offseason and he went 6-1 with a 2.59 earned run average at Triple-A Gwinnett before the trade.
The 35-year-old veteran underwent Tommy John surgery on August 22, 2007, and had a 7-16 record and a 5.00 ERA last year, his first full season back in the big leagues.
In nine seasons, Lopez has a 75-82 record and a 4.85 ERA in 227 appearances — 199 starts — with the Padres, Orioles, Rockies, Phillies and Diamondbacks.
The 24-year-old Buchter has yet to make a major league appearance. He has pitched in 149 minor league games — two starts — and carries a 3.82 ERA with a 20-7 record, including eight saves, in six seasons.
Atlanta also signed free-agent second baseman Julio Lugo and assigned him to Gwinnett. The 35-year-old journeyman infielder has accumulated 472 RBI, 80 home runs, 198 stolen bases with a .270 batting average in stops with Houston, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles, Boston, St. Louis and Baltimore.
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