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

The Atlanta Braves are desperately trying to avoid the penalties for overspending in the international market. The Athletics are happy to take advantage oblige.

The A's obtained right-handed reliever Aaron Kurcz from the Atlanta Braves.
The A's obtained right-handed reliever Aaron Kurcz from the Atlanta Braves.
Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

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:

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.