According to multiple sources (mine being Scott Lucas of the Newberg Report), the Texas Rangers have traded right handed pitcher Jason Frasor to the Kansas City Royals for right handed minor league pitcher Spencer Patton.
Spencer Patton is one of those feast or famine type pitchers, either striking you out or letting you hit the ball hard. At the AAA level this season, he is averaging 1.7 home runs per nine innings, but he is also striking out 11.7 batters per nine innings. He has a 4.08 ERA for Omaha with a relievers record of 4-3. According to Scott Lucas Spencer Patton
“he’s been very hard to hit, but the hits have been hard.”
Spencer Patton is most definitely a strikeout pitcher, averaging 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings over his minor league career. He is a guy that has a little developing left to do, but the raw talent is there.
So the first domino in the “who are the Texas Rangers going to trade away” game have now fallen into place. Don’t be surprised to see more small deals like this in the near future for a Neal Cotts or a Joakim Soria or even Alex Rios. The Texas Rangers are in building a better team for next season mode, and I am alright with that.
