Reports: Oakland Athletics add C Geovany Soto from Texas Rangers
By Phil Watson
According to a report, the Oakland Athletics have acquired catcher Geovany Soto from the Texas Rangers.
Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish confirmed a report first tweeted by Mark Madson that the A’s had acquired Soto.
According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, the Rangers will receive cash considerations for the former All-Star.
A's get Geovany Soto for cash considerations. No other players involved.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 24, 2014
The A’s use a platoon of catchers Derek Norris and John Jaso and had utilityman Stephen Vogt as their third catcher.
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But according to the San Jose Mercury News, Vogt’s foot injury prevents him from catching and, given manager Bob Melvin’s predilection for pinch-hitting for matchups, Oakland apparently wanted a third option behind the right-handed hitting Norris and the lefty-swinging Jaso.
Soto had only played in 10 games for the Rangers this season, going 9-for-38 with one homer and three RBI. The 31-year-old had also played six games at Double-A Frisco and 10 at Triple-A Round Rock.
Soto was an All-Star and was named the National League Rookie of the Year for the Chicago Cubs in 2008, when he hit .285/.364/.504 in 141 games, with 66 runs, 23 home runs and 86 RBI.
But his production steadily declined and the Cub s traded him to the Rangers at the non-waiver deadline in 2012 for right-hander Jake Brigham.
Soto signed a one-year contracts with the Rangers as a free agent for both the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
In parts of three seasons in Texas, Soto played in 111 games and hit .223/.287/.401 with 15 homers and 50 RBI.
Norris is hitting .284/.377/.450 in 97 games for the A’s, with 10 homers and 47 RBI. Jaso is at .265/.338/.431 with nine home runs and 40 RBI in 98 games.