The Texas Rangers have reportedly acquired reliever Phil Maton from the St. Louis Cardinals.
The 32-year-old is on a one-year, $2 million contract and will become a free agent after the season.
Maton, a former Houston Astros pitcher, was part of the 2023 team defeated by the Rangers in the ALCS.
He’s having a career-best year, posting a 2.35 ERA, 2.49 FIP, and 2.55 xERA over 40 appearances (38.1 innings), with a strong 30.4% strikeout rate and just one home run allowed.
Over his career, he has a 4.01 ERA and 3.87 FIP across 449 innings.
He joins recent bullpen addition Danny Coulombe as Texas continues to reinforce its pitching staff, which also now includes starter Merrill Kelly from Arizona.
Trade details:
According to Evan Grant, the Rangers are sending pitchers Mason Molina and Skylar Hales, along with $250,000 in international bonus pool money, to St. Louis.
Hales, a 2023 fourth-round pick, was recently promoted to Triple-A but has struggled.
Molina, acquired from the Brewers last offseason, has a 3.41 ERA over 18 games between Low-A and High-A this season.
The deal is now official. To clear a roster spot for Maton, Texas designated Dustin Harris for assignment.
Harris, who is out of minor league options, has underwhelmed offensively, batting .269/.363/.409 over three seasons in Triple-A.
