Trade Central: Rangers Get Beltran For Tate — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

THE DEAL

The Rangers shored up their outfield on Monday about an hour before the non-waiver trade deadline, picking up veteran outfielder Carlos Beltran from the Yankees in exchange for minor league righthander Dillon Tate—the No. 4 overall pick in the 2015 draft—along with fellow righthanders Erik Swanson and Nick Green.

Beltran is the latest Yankee on the move following the trades of Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman earlier this month. He joins a Rangers team with a six-game lead for first place in the AL West but looking to upgrade with Ryan Rua currently starting in left field.

The Yankees, meanwhile, continue to build up their farm system, acquiring a former top prospect in hopes he can regain his frontline form and two other top-10 round draft picks.

YANKEES ACQUIRE
Dillon Tate, rhp
Age: 22

The Rangers drafted Tate fourth overall out of UC Santa Barbara in 2015 but watched his stuff and effectiveness decrease quickly in his first full season. The 6-foot-2, 165-pound California native sat 92-96 mph with his fastball and in the upper 80s with his slider when he was drafted and earned a spot on BA’s Top 100 prospects list before this season. Now though, Tate’s fastball velocity has decreased to 87-90 mph according to scouts who have been at his outings, with a slider lacking bite and a curveball described as “well-below average.” His control has also taken a step backwards, with a 3.7 walks-per-nine innings rate, nine hit batters and eight wild pitches so far. A strained hamstring in early April threw off his delivery, which included a high leg kick, and he has not been the same since. The Yankees will take a chance that Tate can return to his former dominance once he fully gets past his injury, and eventually reach his draft ceiling of a frontline starter. Tate was a reliever until his final year in college, so a move to the bullpen is always a possibility as well.

Club (League)	Class	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
Hickory (South Atlantic)	LoA	5	5	5.12	17	16	65	78	39	37	5	27	55

Erik Swanson, rhp
Age: 22

The Rangers drafted Swanson in the eighth round in 2014 out of Iowa Western Community College, where he helped lead the Reviers to an NJCAA World Series title his sophomore year, but his progress was hampered by a forearm flexor strain that limited him to just 15 1/3 innings in his first full season in 2015. Originally a reliever when he came into pro ball, Swanson moved to the rotation this year with low Class A Hickory and has largely excelled, albeit against younger competition. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Ohio native sits 94-96 mph with his fastball and has reportedly been clocked up to 98, with an upper-80s changeup and mid 80’s slider.

Club (League)	Class	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
Hickory (South Atlantic)	LoA	6	4	3.43	19	15	81.1	77	37	31	4	25	78

Nick Green, rhp
Age: 21

Green was another Rangers pick from the junior college ranks, going in the seventh round in 2014 out of Indian Hills Community College in Iowa. Though a skinny 6-foot-1, 165 pounds, Green brings a quick arm that allows him to get his fastball up to 95 mph. The Yankees originally drafted him in the 35th round in 2013 out of a Colorado high school, liking the promise he showed with a clean arm action and room to grow into his body. An average curveball is Green’s main secondary pitch. He is a longer-term project who will need to gain strength in order to reach his potential.

Club (League)	Class	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
Spokane (Northwest)	SS	2	2	4.98	7	7	34.1	33	22	18	0	14	44

RANGERS ACQUIRE
Carlos Beltran, of
Age: 39

Age hasn’t slowed the prospective Hall of Famer, who is on pace for his first 30-home run season since 2012 and his highest OPS since 2011. Fresh off his ninth All-Star appearance, Beltran is hitting better from the right side (1.051 OPS) than the left side (.816) this season, but is still a threat in all situations. He has become more of a liability in right field as he has gotten older, but his offense makes him enough of an upgrade over incumbent left fielder Ryan Rua if he slides over there. He also will get plenty of at-bats as a DH.