BaseballAmerica.com: Majors: Trade Central: Rangers Trade Galarraga To Tigers

Rangers Trade Galarraga To Tigers

By Matt Eddy
February 5, 2008

The Deal

The Rangers found a taker for righthander Armando Galarraga, whom they designated for assignment on Jan. 25 and traded to the Tigers Feb. 5 for outfielder Michael Hernandez.

The Big Leaguers

Neither player has exhausted his rookie eligibility.

The Prospects

Galarraga, 25, made his big league debut in 2007 and set a career high with 161 innings pitched. He went 11-8, 4.14 with 135-58 K-BB in 152 minor league innings last season, for the Rangers Double- and Triple-A clubs in Frisco and Oklahoma. Signed by the Expos out of Venezuela in 1998 and traded to the Rangers in Texas' 2005 trade for Alfonso Soriano, Galarraga works with a 89-94 mph fastball, slider and changeup. He missed most 2002 and 2003 while recovering from Tommy John surgery and much of 2006 while battling shoulder fatigue.

A nondrafted free agent sign out of Oklahoma State in 2006, Hernandez batted .260/.326/.478 for high Class A Lakeland last season, finishing fourth in the Florida State League with 20 homers and second with 87 RBIs. The 24-year-old righthanded batter clubbed 13 home runs and slugged .461 in the tough low Class A Midwest League in 2006. Hernandez has a chance to hit for average power at the big league level, thanks to strength and a a quick bat. He's a polished hitter adept at centering and lifting the ball. Because of a below-average arm, he fits best in left field.

Quick Take

he Tigers add rotation depth, as Galarraga should be able to fill in for an injured or ineffective starter. Hernandez is headed to Double-A Frisco and could one day serve as a source of power for the Rangers, perhaps in a platoon or reserve role.

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