ARLINGTON -- The Rangers acquired outfielder/designated hitter Carlos Beltrán from the Yankees for Minor League pitchers Dillon Tate, Nick Green and Erik Swanson, the club announced Monday. The Rangers also get cash considerations in the deal.
Beltran will likely be the Rangers designated hitter going down the stretch but could also play outfield. He makes up for the loss of Prince Fielder, who is out for the season after having neck surgery. Fielder was placed on the 60-day disabled list to make room for Beltran.
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"The feeling is that I've got to go there and help. Help as much as I can," Beltran said. "They get me because they think I can contribute and they think I can help the team continue to win ballgames.
"It's fun, honestly. I mean I've been in these type of situations before where you play on a team that is in first place and you know, every game that you play is a meaningful game and you try to continue to win ballgames and increase that lead, so that's the job."
Beltran, 39, is in the final of a three-year, $45 million contract and will be a free agent after the season. He is hitting .304 with 22 home runs, 64 RBIs and a .546 slugging percentage. He has a career .332 average with a .674 slugging percentage in postseason play.
Since the beginning of June, the switch-hitter has compiled a .343/.389/.562/.950 slash line with 10 home runs and 33 RBIs in 49 games. He has seen action in right field (58 games) and as a designated hitter (34 games).
Tate was the fourth overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft out of UC-Santa Barbara and was 3-3 with a 5.40 ERA in 16 starts and one relief appearance for Class A Santa Barbara.
Green is 2-2 with a 4.98 ERA in seven starts with short-season Spokane, his third professional season. Swanson has gone 6-4 with a 3.43 ERA and one save over 19 games/15 starts at Hickory.
Fantasy spin | Fred Zinkie (@FredZinkieMLB)
Beltran has been a fine fantasy contributor in 2016 (22 homers, .304 average), and he should remain productive in a potent Rangers lineup that plays home games at hitter-friendly Globe Life Park in Arlington. Players such as Adrián Beltré and Nomar Mazara are likely set to see an uptick in the counting-stats department, as the move gives Texas the middle-of-the-lineup presence it has been missing thanks to Fielder's struggles. The Yankees' trade of Beltran could give way to a youth movement in the Big Apple, with catcher prospect Gary Sánchez and powerful outfield prospect Aaron Judge both potentially receiving meaningful playing time down the stretch. Owners in deep-mixed formats can consider stashing Sanchez or Judge, depending on positional needs.