After weeks of speculation, the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers reached a deal that sends Matt Garza (6-1, 3.17 ERA) to Arlington for Triple A slugging third baseman Mike Olt, pitchers C.J. Edwards, Justin Grimm, and a player to be named later.
Garza has been scratched from his start tonight against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and will be replaced by Chris Rusin. The Rangers acquired some much needed pitching help, as many of their starters are on the disabled list or just coming off.
Yu Darvish is starting tonight against the New York Yankees, but spent time on the DL with a strained back. Matt Harrison, Colby Lewis and Neftali Feliz are all sidelined, as is Alexi Ogando, who is expected to come off the DL tomorrow.
The move carries risk for Texas, because Garza is in the final year of his contract and could walk away at season's end. The Cubs initially sough pitching prospects Martin Perez and Luke Jackson, but the Rangers held steadfast on keeping those players considering Garza's status as a potential rental.
Mike Olt is ranked by ESPN's Keith Law as the 71st-best prospect in all of baseball, but has struggled mightily in Triple A with a .213 batting average. He has, however, flashed his power by belting 11 home runs.
At Single A, Grimm has been brutal, going 2-4 with a 9.91 ERA in his last eight starts, leaving his last one with a forearm strain. Edwards, on the other hand, has been stellar, going 8-2 with a 1.83 ERA in 18 outings.
Bud Norris of the Houston Astros had been linked to the Rangers as well as a fallback option for Texas, but after completing the Garza deal it is likely Norris will be headed somewhere else. He joins Jake Peavy of the Chicago White Sox as veteran pitchers likely to be dealt soon.
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