MLB trade grades: Rangers swoop in for Aroldis Chapman

The Texas Rangers made the first agressive move of MLB trade season, acquiring Aroldis Chapman from the Royals for two prospects.

With a six-year playoff drought on their recent résumé, the Rangers are sitting in first place in the AL West and they just made a big move in hopes of staying there.

Aroldis Chapman was one of the most desirable pitching options on the trade block with the trade deadline nearing. Now he’s heading for Texas from Kansas City.

The Rangers announced the acquisition officially on Friday, putting the rest of the American League on notice that they mean business this year.

MLB trade details: Rangers give up two prospects for Aroldis Chapman

Chapman was an All-Star pitcher for the Reds and Yankees but he lost his stuff in 2022 and landed with the Royals in 2023 as a reclamation project.

The moved worked out beautifully for both sides as Chapman regained his form and Kansas City got to cash him in as a trade chip. The Royals are getting pitcher Cole Ragans and outfielder Roni Cabrera in return.

Ragans is the intriguing figure in the short-term as a 6-foot-4 left-handed pitcher who has already made appearances in the Rangers bullpen. The Royals just have to hope his long-term potential as a starter in the majors comes to fruition.

Cabrera is 17 years old out of the Dominican. The payoff for him will have to come down the line.

Either way, two solid prospects for a pitcher on a one-year, $3.75 million dollar deal is good business.

Royals trade grade for Aroldis Chapman: A

What about the Rangers?

Well, they’re in win-now mode and they just added a former All-Star reliever with a 2.45 ERA to a bullpen that badly needed help.

Chapman was the best option on the table. Snagging him over other suiters is a big win. Giving up two prospects who weren’t likely to contribute to the current run was an easy decision.

That’s not to say there aren’t risks to this one. Chapman landed in Kansas City of all places for a reason and he has a questionable history on and off the diamond.

In terms of the former, he has been unreliable in high-leverage moments. The Rangers are acquiring him to lift them in those moments. If he shrivels, the whole trade was pointless.

In terms of the latter, domestic violence allegations are never a good thing to have on your personal résumé.

The Rangers had to make a bullpen move and Chapman is a pretty great one on paper, but he’s not a sure-thing by any stretch.

Rangers trade grade for Aroldis Chapman: B+

As with all trades, it’ll take time to truly see who won and lost. But at this moment, it feels like this trade was a win-win for both sides. One team is just trying to win it a whole lot sooner.