Rays trade for Triple A pitcher

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired right-handed relief pitcher John Meloan from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for right-handed relief pitcher Winston Abreu.

Meloan (ma-LONE) has been added to the Rays 40-man roster, bringing the roster to its full capacity. He will report to Durham (AAA). Meloan, who turns 25 on July 11, has spent the entire 2009 season with Columbus (AAA). He went 0-0 for the Clippers with a 5.52 ERA (44.0-IP, 52-H, 27-ER, 17-BB, 37-SO) in 25 appearances (two starts). He has pitched a total of seven games in the major leagues, appearing in two games for the Indians in 2008 and five games in 2007 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Over parts of five minor league seasons, he is 15-16 with 22 saves, a 3.75 ERA (321.1-IP, 134-ER) and 384 strikeouts, an average of 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings.

Meloan was acquired by the Indians on July 26, 2008 from the Dodgers along with catcher Carlos Santana in exchange for infielder Casey Blake. In 2007 he was named a Southern League All-Star and Double-A Reliever of the Year by MinorLeagueBaseball.com. He was selected by the Dodgers in the fifth round of the 2005 June Draft out of the University of Arizona.

Abreu, 32, was designated for assignment on June 27 after making two appearances for the Rays. The Rays selected him from Durham on June 14 after he compiled a 3-0 record, 10 saves and a 1.41 ERA (32.0-IP, 14-H, 5-R/ER, 10-BB, 49-SO) for the Bulls. Abreu was a non-roster invite this spring for the Rays.