Jason Frasor Has Been Traded To Kansas City

In the first of what figures to be a handful of minor July trades, the Rangers have sent veteran reliever Jason Frasor to Kansas City for RHP Spencer Patton. 

In one-plus years with Texas, Frasor was more solid than he was sexy, posting a 2.86 ERA (3.64 xFIP) with 78 strikeouts in 78.2 effective innings on the bump. For that, he was what basically what the Rangers' front office expected him to be when they signed him for $1.5 million before 2013, eventually re-upping for one year and $1.75 million for 2014. In the end, netting a minor prospect for him in return was about as good as it was going to get. 

Patton, 26, is your garden variety high-strikeout reliever who also surrenders his fair share of free passes. Last season, spanning 82.1 IP between Advanced-A and Double-A, he owned an impressive strikeout rate north of 30% with a walk rate around 8%, culminating in his best season as a professional (1.86 ERA). This year at Triple-A, Spencer has been less inspiring, as his walk (11.7%) and homer rate (1.75 per 9 innings) have each increased against the better competition, but he is still striking hitters out (31.9% K rate). 

Though he's not a can't-miss prospect, the hope is he will continue racking up those punch outs. That's why the Rangers got him. If he sharpens up in the walk department -- even marginally -- he's the type of low-leverage relief pitcher who could provide actual utility in Arlington. For Jason Frasor, Patton is precisely the type of player one would expect on the opposite end of the trade.