Rays Firm Up Bullpen, Acquire Reliever Bradford From Orioles

St. Petersburg, FL (AHN) - The AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays shored up their bullpen roster Thursday, adding reliever Chad Bradford in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles.

The Orioles will receive a player to be named for shipping Bradford, a setup man who currently sports a 3-3 mark with a 2.45 ERA in 47 appearances this season.

The right-hander will join Dan Wheeler, J.P. Howell and Grant Balfour in the Rays 'pen and will help setting up closer Troy Percival.

The Rays are atop the AL East, two games ahead of the Boston Red Sox. Tampa Bay trails the Los Angeles Angels for the best record in the majors by just two and a half games.

"We are excited to add Chad to our bullpen," general manager Andrew Friedman told MLB.com. "He gives us a very different look from what we currently have. He's an extreme groundball pitcher that should enjoy a lot of success pitching in front of our infield defense."

Bradford is in his second season with the Orioles after having previously played for the Chicago White Sox, Oakland, Boston and the New York Mets.

In 520 career games in the majors, the 33-year-old reliever owns a 34-28 record with a 3.31 ERA in 486-plus innings of work.