The Rangers sent utility infielder Jurickson Profar to the Athletics as part of a three-team trade between Texas, Oakland and Tampa Bay. Rollie Lacy also went to Tampa Bay.

Lacy, you may recall, was the jewel of the Cole Hamels trade. Also acquired in that deal was Eddie Butler, who bombed in his time with Texas and recently signed to play in Korea next season, meaning both pitchers they received for Hamels are now elsewhere.

The Rangers received four players back for Profar, along with international slot money in the draft.

Coming to Texas from Tampa Bay are lefties Kyle Bird and Brock Burke, as well as righty Yoel Espinal. Coming to Texas from Oakland is infielder Eli White and the slot money.

Bird is 26, and was promoted to Triple-A in mid-season. There, he put up some impressive numbers, mostly out of the bullpen. In 27 games, he posted a 1.94 ERA, striking out more than a batter per inning (65 in 55.2). His WHIP was a bit higher than his ERA would suggest because he walked more batters than he should, 26, or about one every other inning.

Burke is 22, and hasn’t yet pitched above Double-A. He’s been mostly used as a starter. He too put up some pretty impressive numbers after he moved up a level, which is pretty encouraging. He went 6-1, with a 1.95 ERA in nine starts. His WHIP was 0.958.

Espinal is a 25-year-old reliever who has sort of stagnated at Double-A.  He, too, had a pretty impressive run after being elevated to a higher level in 2018, putting up a 1.98 ERA in forty relief appearances.

White is an infielder, mostly a shortstop, known for making contact, a foreign term to Rangers fans meaning a player who doesn’t strikeout every other at-bat, who makes “contact,” or actually puts the ball in play.

This is a totally restocking move. The Rangers traded a former number-one prospect for a number of pitching prospects.

Meaning, cross your fingers.