Two American League clubs got better in the bullpen in the waining hours leading up to the deasdline Tuesday.
The Texas Rangers, who began the day seven games back of the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners in the West, are just 3.5 games back in the Wild Card race. In acquiring lefty Andrew Chafin, the Rangers’ struggles versus left-handed hitting has been addressed.
Chafin, 34, has had another strong year, pisting a career-best 30.9% strikeout rate and some of the best runs-allowed results of his career. He’s held lefties to a .180/.261/.213 slash this season.
The Rangers hold a 2025 option on Chafin.
Detroit received right-handed pitching prospects Joseph Montalvo and Chase Lee in return.
Lee, 25, is up to 94 mph with a four-seamer and sinker, and misses bats with a slider (80-83 mph). He’s a pure reliever who has performed in Triple-A this year, but has had some control problems.
Montalvo, 22, is a fastball-slider-changeup right-hander with plus athleicism and misses bats with the low-80 breaker. Scouts like his chances to throw strikes and develop the changeup, strong evidence he’s a rotation piece.
The Rangers wisely kept 2025 in mind in this deal. The Tigers did not, despite the fact they sit just one game back of Texas in the Wild Card hunt.
TRADE GRADES (20-80 Scale)
Texas: 60
Detroit: 50
The Boston Red Sox added depth and some upside to their relief corps with right-hander Lucas Sims.
Sims sits 92-96 mph wit his fastball but leds the way with his slider, throwing it early 49% of the time with good results. His cutter is a quality third option, and one he might throw more often if his four-seamers keeps getting hit (.275 BAA, .549 SLGA).
The 30-year-old will be a free agent after the season and the Red Sox will seek to help him throw strikes more cosistently, but Sims can be a quality middle-innings arm.
The Reds are getting right-hander Ovis Portes in return, a raw, projectable arm up to 95 mph and a slider that flashes. It’s a long-term wager for Cincinnati, but a fitting one.
Boston: 50
Cincinnati: 55
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