Jesse Crain Deal Complete

Jun 29, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Jesse Crain (26) delivers a pitch during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians at US Cellular Field. Cleveland won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The Rays will send minor league LHP Sean Bierman to the White Sox to complete the deal that brought reliever Jesse Crain to Tampa in July, Marc Tompkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Bierman, who was drafted in the tenth round in last years draft, pitched well in A and A+ ball this year, posting a 2.55 ERA over 14 starts and four relief appearances. He, however, will turn 25 on October 20th, making him considerably old for A ball, and his future is likely as a left handed middle reliever at best. He did not rank among the Rays’ top 30 prospects going into this year, but his greatest tool is command as he had 1.4 BB/9 overall last season and did not walk a batter in 21.1 innings Florida State League (A+) innings.

Crain, for what its worth, never actually threw a pitch for the Rays. He was hurt when the deal was made, and while Tampa was hoping he could get healthy by the end of the year, he never did. Nevertheless, a 25 year old, future middle reliever is a small price to pay for a team with as much pitching depth as Tampa.