Texas Rangers
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers have acquired right-hander Nate Jones from the Chicago White Sox for minor league pitchers Joe Jarneski and Ray Castro.
Chicago will send the Rangers $750,000 as part of Wednesday’s deal to cover part of the $1.5 million remaining in the $4.65 million salary for Jones, who is on the injured list after surgery to repair a flexor mass tear in his right forearm. He is not expected to pitch again this season.
Texas also will get $1 million in international signing bonus pool allotment for 2019-20.
Jones had a 3.48 ERA in 13 relief appearances this season before going on the injured list April 27. He is 22-13 with a 3.12 ERA in 284 relief appearances in his big league career from 2012-19, all with the White Sox.
His contract includes a $3.75 million club option for 2020 with a $1.25 million buyout, and also a 2021 option. The 19-year-old Jarneski is in the Arizona League, and the 22-year-old Castro in the Dominican Summer League.
MINOR, PENCE STILL RANGERS
Mike Minor will make his scheduled start for the Rangers after the trade deadline passed with the All-Star lefty still in Texas. Hunter Pence, the All-Star designated hitter, is also still with his hometown team and was in the lineup Wednesday night when Minor and the Rangers played the Seattle Mariners, an AL West rival that traded three pitchers Wednesday.
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels says his team, which has dropped a game under .500, explored a lot of different options.
“There were a couple of things that got close later today that I thought might come to fruition, but ultimately it didn’t line up for one side or the other,” Daniels said, without getting into specifics.
Minor, who is signed with the Rangers through next season, drew interest from teams looking to boost their rotations.
Daniels said the Rangers weren’t going to force a deal, and that the future options could include Minor pitching in Texas beyond next season.