Boston Red Sox Update: Swap Pitchers with the Texas Rangers

By Cheri Cheng - 28 Jan '15 16:22PM

The Boston Red Sox has traded right-hander Anthony Ranaudo to the Texas Rangers in exchange for left-hander Robbie Ross Jr.

Ross Jr. was picked by the Rangers in the second round of the 2008 draft. In 2011, he had a 10-5 record with a 2.34 ERA playing for the Class A Myrtle Beach Pelicans and Double-A Frisco Roughriders.

He made his major league debut for the Rangers in 2012. In his three major league seasons, Ross Jr. went 13-8 and posted an ERA of 3.98. During the first two years, Ross Jr. pitched exclusively out of the bullpen. In 2014, Ross went 3-6 with a 6.20 ERA in 12 starts.

"His first years, pitching strictly as a reliever, he was really good - borderline dominant - if you take into consideration his age and the ballpark he was pitching in," a talent evaluator commented according to the Boston Globe.

The Red Sox's former top prospect Ranaudo will be headed for Texas.

"He is a guy we like, we've liked for a long time," Texas general manager Jon Daniels said reported by CBS DFW. "When this trade came down, we liked the value.

The Rangers had originally picked Ranaudo during the 11th round of the 2007 draft. At the time, the 6-foot-7 pitcher decided against signing with a major league team and chose to attend LSU. In the 2010 draft, Ranaudo was picked up by Boston as a supplemental first-round pick, 39th overall.

The 25-year-old made his major league debut last season. He went 4-3 in seven starts with a 4.81 ERA. During his time at Triple-A Pawtucket, Ranaudo went 14-4 and was chosen the International League's most valuable pitcher.