This morning, a completely reasonable headline was announced. The Oakland Athletics have acquired IF Jurickson Profar from the Texas Rangers. Then, for the second week in a row, the Tampa Bay Rays found themselves as a late announcement to a three-way deal.
The Rays received RHP Emilio Pagan, RHP Rollie Lacy, and the 38th pick in the 2019 MLB draft from the Athletics while sending out LHP Brock Burke, LHP Kyle Bird, and RHP Yoel Espinal to the Rangers.
What the Rangers and Athletics are doing in this trade is crystal clear. The Rangers aren’t going to be good in the next few years so need to trade their current wins for future.