Rangers Acquire Aroldis Chapman Via Trade From Royals
MLB decided they had to break some news during the midst of NBA Free Agency and ESPN layoff day. Thanks, MLB! However, this trade should come as no surprise. The Royals are waving the white flag and Texas is starting to load up as a legit contender. Aroldis Chapman is on his way to Texas.
We've acquired LHP Aroldis Chapman from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for LHP Cole Ragans and minor league OF Roni Cabrera. pic.twitter.com/OdjuUtVFvy
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) June 30, 2023
You never know with prospects but this deal seems pretty low risk for the Rangers. Neither Ragans or Cabrera were ranked among the top 30 prospects in Texas. Ragans, 25, posted nine starts last year while posting a 4.95 ERA in 40 innings. He’s since turned into a reliever and has notched a 5.92 ERA across 24 1/3 innings. He’s pretty much established as a depth guy.
Cabrera is 18 is buried in rookie ball. We’ll see but thus far isn’t ranked.
Chapman, 35, is having a really strong season with the Royals thus far. That’s while carrying a cheap contract for 2023 that’s worth $3.75 million contract. The hard-throwing Cuban southpaw sports a 2.45 ERA over 29 1/3 innings in 31 appearances for 2023.
You don’t trade for Aroldis Chapman to not make him the closer. Will Smith likely moves down the pecking order and becomes the 8th inning guy. Chapman hasn’t lost his fastball yet either. Chapman is still averaging 99.4 MPH on his fastball even at an advanced age.
Texas is really good guys. The Rangers are 49-32 and are in first place in the AL West. This team just added another arm for the pen. The Rangers might be real even after losing Jacob deGrom.
