ATLANTA -- With a sudden abundance of capable relievers, the Braves have opted to say goodbye to the most tenured member of their bullpen and activate yet another rookie, who should soon be making his Major League debut.

The Braves announced late Thursday afternoon that they had traded right-handed reliever Kevin Gryboski to the Rangers for right-handed pitcher Matt Lorenzo. Assuming Gryboski's spot on the 25-man roster will be left-handed reliever Macay McBride, who will join the team in Arizona on Friday.

Lorenzo will be assigned to the Braves' Class A affiliate in Myrtle Beach. The 23-year-old starting pitcher, who was the Rangers' fifth-round selection out of Kent State in 2003, was demoted from Double-A Frisco to Class A Bakersfield on June 1.

"The way our bullpen has developed over the year -- and with Bobby feeling confident with its strength -- allowed us to make this deal," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said.

With the recent promotion of Jay Powell to the Major League roster, the Braves gained a veteran reliever who is capable of being the ground-ball specialist that Gryboski has been since making his Major League debut with Atlanta in 2002.

Gryboski, who made 31 appearances for the Braves this year, had posted an 8.31 ERA and seen opponents hit .333 against him in seven July appearances.

Other factors that allowed the Braves to gain a young arm for Gryboski included the addition of Jim Brower, the reemergence of Dan Kolb and the quality work Blaine Boyer has provided. Suddenly manager Bobby Cox has plenty of relievers he can insert with confidence.

"It's a good situation for us," said Schuerholz, who has seen his bullpen post a 2.93 ERA in July.

McBride, who was the club's top draft pick in 2001 out of Sylvania, Ga., has posted a 4.17 ERA and seen left-handed hitters bat .306 against him in the 22 appearances he's made since being promoted to Triple-A Richmond on May 11.

But he has allowed just two earned runs in his past 12 2/3 innings. With the addition of the 22-year-old southpaw, Cox now has the luxury of having two left-handed relievers in his bullpen. John Foster has been his only left-handed relief option for most of the season.

McBride becomes the 14th rookie -- five of whom have been native Georgians -- to be placed on the Braves' big-league roster this year. Barring any unforeseen events, he'll become the ninth player to make his Major League debut with Atlanta in the 2005 season.

"The reports I've been receiving tell me all that I needed to know, and that he was the guy we should bring up to a Major League club," Schuerholz said.

If the Braves would need to dip into their Minor League system for more relievers, Roman Colon and Joey Devine, the latter of whom was the club's top selection in this year's draft, are both options. If possible, the club would like Colon to continue registering innings as a starting pitcher at Richmond.

Devine hasn't allowed a run in the 13 innings he's compiled for Myrtle Beach and Double-A Mississippi. When he was selected, the club confirmed they believed there was a shot the hard-throwing closer out of North Carolina State could make the rapid rise this year.