Royals send Chapman to Rangers for 2 players
KANSAS CITY — The Royals kicked off the Trade Deadline season by sending energy reliever Aroldis Chapman to the Rangers on Friday afternoon.
In return, the Royals acquired lefty pitcher Cole Ragans — who has appeared out of the Rangers’ bullpen this season however is seen as a starter — and Dominican Summer League outfielder Roni Cabrera.
Ragans, 25, has been added to the 40-man roster and optioned to Triple-A, the place he’ll proceed to get stretched out as a starter and prepare for his first alternative in Kansas City, which is able to doubtless come quickly. Cabrera has been assigned to the Royals’ Dominican Summer League staff.
“There was a lot of interest in Chapman, and Texas seemed to be the most aggressive team in pursuit of his talent,” basic supervisor J.J. Picollo mentioned. “We acquired one man that’s pitched within the Major Leagues and who we expect generally is a beginning pitcher within the Major Leagues, and we acquired one which’s within the DSL, who’s a toolsy participant and our scouts and [research and development] division say has upside at 17 years outdated.
“We accomplished what we set out to do.”
Ragans, a 6-foot-4 lefty, was the Rangers’ first-round Draft choose in 2016 and underwent two Tommy John surgical procedures earlier than making his debut in 2022. He has a profession 3.64 ERA within the Minors and made 17 appearances out of the Texas bullpen this season, posting a 5.92 ERA.
In three begins for Triple-A since he was optioned on June 13, Ragans had a 2.79 ERA.
Ragans has a stay fastball that has seen an uptick in velocity this season, hitting 94-98 mph. His breaking ball is plus, and his changeup has the potential to be above common. Ragans has strikeout stuff, posting a 38.5 % strikeout price in Triple-A, though he additionally had a 15.4 % stroll price there, too.
“It’s a three-pitch mix with power, so that’s exciting,” Picollo mentioned. “His walk rates, I think, are going to regress a little bit. But there’s power to his fastball and that’s exciting to us.”
Cabrera signed with the Rangers out of the Dominican in 2022. In 54 at-bats for the Rangers’ DSL staff, Cabrera has a 1.075 OPS with one homer and 10 RBIs.
“You look at some data on a 17-year-old, the batted ball data is impressive,” Picollo mentioned. “He’s an upside player, and it’s almost like adding someone to your Draft class, which is a couple weeks away. We got another young player that we think has some ceiling, lot of projection.”
The Royals signed Chapman to a one-year, $3.75 million contract this offseason with the understanding that if he acquired again to his dominant self, he may very well be their greatest commerce chip this summer time. That has been the case, because the 35-year-old posted a 2.45 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings. The Royals wished to maneuver shortly in a deal for him, having talked with a number of groups over the past month. Chapman will slot right into a Rangers bullpen searching for assist as they race towards the postseason.
“He looks like he did five to seven years ago,” Royals supervisor Matt Quatraro mentioned. “Complete credit score to him and the folks he labored with all winter to revamp his supply, and to Brian [Sweeney] and the pitching guys right here to proceed that work and construct that confidence. The manner he carried himself couldn’t have been higher.
“We thank him for that and wish him the best of luck. And I’m glad we’re done playing the Rangers.”
Trading Chapman was the Royals’ precedence, however it is not going to be the one transfer they make with a month to go till the Aug. 1 Deadline. It’s turning into more and more doubtless they commerce nearer Scott Barlow, who nonetheless has a yr of management left. Sources informed MLB.com that the Rangers have been enthusiastic about buying Barlow, too, and the 2 groups might nonetheless proceed these negotiations.
Teams have additionally requested about Taylor Clarke and Carlos Hernández, per sources — and people two will get ample alternative now to pitch in higher-leverage conditions with Chapman gone.
Picollo mentioned there is no such thing as a participant actually off the desk, though it’s laborious to ascertain a commerce for one of many Royals’ younger hitters this summer time. But groups might present curiosity in gamers like utility infielder Nicky Lopez and outfielder Edward Olivares.
“Now that you get one out of the way, you start figuring out what the next ones are,” Picollo mentioned. “We’re open to whatever may come our way, but we have a month to work on it, and that’s plenty of time.”
