Former Pirates closer Salomon Torres, the majors’ most-used reliever in 2006, was dealt Friday by Pittsburgh to the division rival Milwaukee Brewers for pitching prospects Marino Salas and Kevin Roberts.
The Brewers — rebuilding their bullpen since losing Francisco Cordero to Cincinnati and Scott Linebrink to Chicago via free agency — landed a proven reliever who, until last season, was one of the majors’ most dependable and durable.
Torres had recurring problems with a sore right elbow last season, limiting him to 56 appearances in the worst of his six seasons with Pittsburgh. He was 2-4 with a 5.47 ERA and lost the closer’s job he had at the beginning of the season, converting 12 of 18 save opportunities.
On Wednesday, the team signed reliever David Riske to a three-year deal worth at least $13 million. Riske, who was 1-4 with a 2.45 ERA in 65 games with Kansas City last season, may replace Cordero as the closer if setup man Derrick Turnbow doesn’t win back the job he had in 2005 and half of 2006.
The 26-year-old Salas had 17 saves and a 2.77 ERA in 51 appearances with Double-A Huntsville and Triple-A Nashville last season. Originally signed by Baltimore 10 years ago, Salas had a 1.42 ERA in 37 games with Huntsville. He has a 3.59 ERA in 317 career minor league games.
The 23-year-old Roberts, a fifth-round pick in 2005, was 6-3 with four saves and a 3.44 ERA in 45 games with Single-A Brevard County. He has a 4.07 ERA in 101 games over three minor-league seasons.