Texas Rangers Trade for World Series Champion Reliever Aroldis Chapman

The Texas Rangers traded for Aroldis Chapman on Friday in a flurry of moves that included activating Glenn Otto.

William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers traded for decorated reliever Aroldis Chapman on Friday, dealing left-handed pitcher Cole Ragans and minor league outfielder Roni Cabrera in the process.

Acquiring Chapman helps address the bullpen issues that have plagued the Rangers at times throughout the season and signals how serious the club is about contending.

Chapman, 35, has gone 4-2 with two saves and a 2.45 ERA (8 ER/29.1 IP) in 31 relief appearances for the Kansas City Royals this season, striking out 53 of 122 (43.4%) batters faced. He ranks among American League relief leaders in 2023 in strikeouts (4th), opp. OPS (7th, .483), and opp. batting average (9th, .158).

The left-hander’s 16.26 strikeouts per 9.0 innings figure this season is second-highest among MLB relief qualifiers to only Baltimore Orioles’ Félix Bautista, and would be his best mark since 2020 (16.97).

The seven-time All-Star is one of four relief pitchers in MLB history to earn as many as seven All-Star selections, joining Rivera (13), Kimbrel (8) and Goose Gossage (8).

A World Series champion with the Chicago Cubs in 2016, Chapman has gone 3-4 with 10 saves and a 2.40 ERA (11 ER/41.1 IP) in 35 career postseason appearances. He has struck out 62 of 168 (36.9%) batters faced in postseason play, good for the most relief strikeouts and highest strikeout pct. in MLB postseason history (min. 40.0 IP).

The 14-year Major League veteran owns a career 48-37 record, 317 saves, and 2.47 ERA (184 ER/669.1 IP) with the Cincinnati Reds (2010-2015), New York Yankees (2016, 2017-22), Cubs (2016) and Kansas City (2023). A native of Holguín, Cuba, Chapman originally signed with the Reds as a non-drafted free agent on January 11, 2010.

Ragans, 25, has gone 2-6 with a 5.32 ERA (38 ER/64.1 IP) in 26 games/nine starts for Texas over the last two seasons. The Florida native was the Rangers first-round selection in the 2016 MLB Draft out of North Florida Christian High School in Tallahassee, Fla.

Cabrera, 17, has batted .320 with one home run and 10 RBI in 15 games with the Dominican Summer League Rangers Red team this season. The Dominican Republic native was originally signed by Texas as a non-drafted free agent on May 19, 2022.

The Rangers have also made the following roster moves:

• Right-handed pitcher Glenn Otto activated from 60-day Injured List.
• Infielder/outfielder Brad Miller activated from 10-day Injured List.
• Left-handed pitcher John King optioned to Round Rock (AAA).
• Right-handed pitcher Yerry Rodríguez optioned to Round Rock (AAA).
• Catcher Sam Huff optioned to Round Rock (AAA).

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