Texas Rangers acquire international slot money from Baltimore Orioles

Texas Rangers transactions: David Lebron has been traded to the Baltimore Orioles for international slot money, the Rangers announced today. Lebron, 25, was the Rangers’ 26th round drafter pick in 2018 out of the University of Tampa. A righthanded reliever, he put up a 1.31 ERA in 20.2 IP between Spokane and Down East, with 19 Ks against 6 walks.

International slot money can be traded in increments of $250,000, and I would guess that $250,000 is how much the Rangers obtained from Baltimore in this deal. The Orioles, who had historically not been involved in the J-2 market prior to new g.m. Mike Elias coming on board, had pursued free agent Victor Victor Mesa aggressively earlier in the offseason, but once he signed with the Miami Marlins, they had a lot more money available to spend than there were targets to spend it on.

The Rangers also got $750,000 in international slot money from the Oakland A’s in the Jurickson Profar trade, so Texas has the ability to spend a fair amount on any additional J-2 prospects before the 2018-19 signing period closes on June 15, 2019.

22 year old Cuban shortstop Yolbert Sanchez was cleared to sign last month, though the glove-first infielder would seem to potentially be able to command more than the roughly $1 million the Rangers would seem to have available to spend. Baltimore’s pool, even after this trade, is over $5 million, so they could still be in position to moneywhip Sanchez, should they choose.