Lucas Harrell (63) should help the Rangers pitching staff. Photo Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Adding reinforcements for an injury-plagued rotation, the Texas Rangers acquired right-hander Lucas Harrell in a three-player trade with the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.
Harrell and right-handed reliever Dario Alvarez are headed to Texas in exchange for minor league infield prospect Travis Demeritte.
“You look at both pitchers we acquired, they can help our ballclub, fill a role and add depth,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. “With Lucas, he is a guy who is throwing the ball well. He has been around a little bit, had some experience and he has been on a little bit of a roll.”
In five starts for Atlanta this month since he was called up from the minors, Harrell pitched effectively. He is 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA, and he threw six shutout innings in a 2-0 win at Minnesota on Tuesday.
“He was in trouble a lot but made the pitches,” Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said after the game. “He just kept battling. He never gives in. Just a really solid outing. He doesn’t get caught up in the moment, he stays calm, been there done that. He just continues to pitch. He’s got a knack for getting out of trouble.”
Harrell, 31, previously pitched for the Chicago White Sox (2010-11) and the Houston Astros (2011-14). In 93 major league games (67 starts), he is 20-35 with a 4.74 ERA.
He will join a Texas rotation that has starting pitchers Derek Holland and Colby Lewis on the 60-day disabled list. Another Rangers starter, Yu Darvish, has spent two stretches on the DL.
According to the Dallas Morning News, Harrell likely will make his first start for Texas on Sunday, replacing Nick Martinez in the rotation.
Alvarez, 27, was effective in limited action out of the Atlanta bullpen this year. He was 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in 16 appearances.
Demeritte, 21, is viewed as a potential slugger. He had 25 homers and 59 RBIs in 88 games for high Class A High Desert this season. Demeritte was hitting .272 with a .352 on-base percentage and a .583 slugging percentage.
He was a first-round pick out of a Georgia high school in 2013.
“We’re fired up about it,” Braves general manager John Coppolella told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We have talked about trading pitching for hitting, and it’s a trade that does that.
“Obviously, (Demeritte) is not here right now, but he’s a kid who’s moved pretty quickly. He’s 21 years old, he’s from (Georgia), he’s played very well — he actually started at second base opposite Dansby Swanson in the Futures Game. Twenty-five home runs: I don’t think anybody that’s in the Braves minor league system right now is anywhere close to that.”
