The Texas Rangers have agreed to send a shortstop Elvis Andrus to the Oakland Athletics, who will move designated victim Khris Davis to the Rangers, the teams announced Saturday. The Rangers also get catcher Jonah Heim and right-handed thrower Dane Acker, while the A’s get catcher Aramis Garcia and cash considerations.
The move ends an extremely successful twelve-year period with the Rangers for Andrus. The 2009 Rookie of the Year runner-up was a two-time All-Star who was part of the golden era of Rangers baseball, winning four division titles, a game card and two pennants. Prior to this year, the Rangers had only appeared three times in the playoffs and had never progressed.
In the twelve years, Andrus stole .274 with a 0.330 base percentage, 303 doubles, 305 steals, 893 runs and 1,743 strokes. He ranks third in Rangers history in both hits and runs while sitting ninth in position player WAR. He is now 32 years old and has achieved just .194 / .252 / .330 in 111 record shows last season, but he stole .275 in 2019 with 12 homers and 31.
The A’s are obviously suitable for Andrus shortly after the departure of the famous free agent Marcus Semien.
On the Rangers side, Isiah Kiner-Falefa was already tied in the direction of 2021 as the everyday shortstop with the expectation that the third base was a bit on track (Andrus was expected to be involved in the competition for the spot). It is possible that Rougned Odor will take over from Nick Solak in second place.
Davis (33) has only been two years away from leading the way with 48 homers, but his OPS + over the past three seasons shows his drastic decline: 137 to 83 to 79. It was only 99 record appearances last season, but Davis has a discount made of 200. .303 / .329 with 26 strikeouts and only two homers. He is not too old to return to Peak Davis, which in 2018 was 0.247 / .326 / .549, 48 homers and 123 RBI.
When he does, he forms one of the most amazing power duos in baseball with Joey Gallo.
Regardless, Davis is likely in line for most Rangers DH batsmen to open the season.
At the end of the A they will just mix at DH.
Heim and Acker also go to the Rangers. Heim (25) hit .211 in 38 at-bats as a rookie last season for the A’s. In 2019, he played in 85 games between Double-A and Triple-A, hitting 0.310 / .385 / .477 with nine homers and 53 RBI. For now, he’s probably the backup for Jose Trevino behind the plate. Acker, 21, was the A’s fourth round of the University of Oklahoma this past four summers.
Upon completion of the agreement, Garcia goes to the A’s. He saw time in 2018-19 with the Giants and hit .229 with 22 homers in 37 games. He’s the leader for Sean Murphy behind Oakland.