Around 4.54 pm before the deadline was closed, Jeff Passan reported that the Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals had agreed to send Phil Maton to the Rangers.
The Rangers get Maton from the cardinals in exchange for #27th and #28th Pitching -Proers Mason Molina and Skylar Hales as well as international bonus pole money. Mason Molina threw pretty good for the Rangers this year. In 74 innings he eliminated 92 batters and held opponents against a stroke average of .207 and he had an ERA of 3.41. Molina was acquired last year in the Grant Anderson Trade with the Brewers. I liked what Molina did this year and he became one of my favorites, but it is part of the company that you cannot keep to every prospect. Skylar Hales has had an interesting professional career so far. I think Hales would be a reliever for the rangers that he throws a high 90s fastball with a curveball and a slider. Hales had a good year for the Rangers in High A and AA last year. At both levels he had an ERA of 3.18 in 56.2 innings, and he also held opponents to a stroke average of .231. This year for Hales has been a different story for him, so far he has an ERa of 7.64 in 33 innings in Aa and AAA.
As far as Maton is concerned, the Rangers will get one of the better presforming relievers this year. Maton has an ERA of 2.35 in the year with a 2.49 FIP, he has also done a good job this year when hitting Hitters, which is certain what the Rangers need in the bullpen. Maton has not hit very hard this year, he is 99th percentile in AVG Exit Velo, 97th percentile in barrel%and 99th percentile in hard hit%. He has a 4 -Pitch mix with a curve, wipe machine, cutter and a zinc shell. Maton’s Curveball has been his best pitch for him and his best raised pitch, Hitters only touch it .152.
In general I like this movement for the Rangers a bit. In my opinion it was not too expensive and the Rangers received a really good arm from the market.
#Rangers #acquire #Phil #Maton