Oakland A's acquire RHP Aaron Kurcz from Braves for international slot No. 113

The Oakland Athletics obtained right-handed minor league reliever Aaron Kurcz from the Atlanta Braves for international slot number 113, which corresponds to the right to spend $167,000 on international signings during the 2015-16 signing period without incurring penalties. Kurcz, turning 25 in August, is not on the 40-man roster. This is the second time the A's have traded an international bonus slot for a Braves pitcher in a week, having acquired Cody Martin from the Braves for slot 53 on July 2.

Baseball America's Ben Badler:

Worth $167,000. Trying to fit Derian Cruz, Christian Pache and Juan Morales under their pool, then go big in 2016 https://t.co/FAMbTtjZDv

— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) July 6, 2015

The Braves had obtained Kurcz from the Boston Red Sox for Anthony Varvaro in the offseason. Talking Chop's Ethan Purser fired off a quick scouting report on Kurcz at that time:

Kurcz is the arm the Red Sox got for Theo and now [Atlanta] got for Varvaro. Saw him in the [Arizona Fall League]. Short guy with a big-time arm speed and very nice flow. Max effort, herky-jerky type mechanics from an H3/4 slot. 94-95 straight FB with some riding life. Potential above-average to plus slider, pretty nice pitch with tight, sharp break when he's on top. Firm CH that is playable in the upper 80s, probably a 45 but a decent pitch nonetheless.

This season is Kurcz's first in Triple-A, where he has made 31 appearances over 33 innings, striking out 38 and walking 11 while allowing two home runs. He has a 3.27 ERA. Kurcz missed the 2013 season recovering from Tommy John surgery he had in July of 2012.