DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - The Texas Rangers have traded pitcher Mike Minor and cash considerations to the Oakland A's for two minor leaguers and a reported $133,000 in international slot money. Both clubs made the deal official later Monday afternoon.
According to multiple reports, the two players are outfielder Marcus Smith and third baseman Dustin Harris.
Smith was a third-round pick in 2019, while Harris was selected in the 11th round of that same year's draft.
According to ESPN's Keith Law, Smith and Harris are the No. 13 and No. 19 ranked prospects in the A's system.
In the Arizona Rookie League, Smith hit an impressive .361 with no home runs and 14 RBI in 29 games. He also had a .466 on-base percentage.
Smith, 19, hails from Pembroke High School in Kansas City. Here's part of MLB.com's breakdown on him:
"Young and super athletic, Smith showed a much better approach at the plate than anticipated in the rookie-level Arizona League, posting a 16.8 percent walk rate while showing the ability to make consistent contact from the left side of the plate. There’s not a ton of future power in his bat, he’s more of a line-drive type to left- and right-center field, but he’ll likely run into a few homers and he grows into his body. His best tool is his speed, something he’ll learn to use on the basepaths as he progresses."
As for Harris, the 21-year-old was selected by Oakland out of St. Petersburg Junior College. In 58 games between the rookie league and Single-A, Harris hit .325 with one home run and 26 RBI, to go along with an OBP of .403.
Minor has struggled this season after posting a career year with the Rangers in 2019. He is 0-5 with a 5.60 ERA in seven starts this season.
The Rangers flirted with the idea of trading Minor at last season's deadline but ultimately held onto him. He finished the year 14-10 with a 3.59 ERA.
Minor is coming off of his best start of the season Friday where he blanked one of the best offenses in baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in six innings of work. He allowed four hits and three walks while striking out six in that start, prompting trade winds to gust once again for the left-hander.
The 32-year-old is in the final year of the three-year, $28 million contract he signed with Texas in 2018.
It should be a very active and interesting few hours before the deadline comes to an end at 3 p.m. central time.