The Texas Rangers have traded utility man Josh Smith and pitching prospect Josh Stephen to the Toronto Blue Jays for Adam Macko.
The Texas Rangers have traded utility man Josh Smith and right-handed pitching prospect Josh Stephan to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for left-handed reliever Adam Macko.
Macko has appeared in 22 games as a rookie for the Blue Jays this season, posting a 4.91 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 22 innings.
Adding Macko gives the Rangers another left-handed arm out of the bullpen, joining Tyler Alexander, Robby Ahlstrom, and All-Star closer Jacob Latz.
Macko is primarily a fastball/slider pitcher, with those two pitches coming out to be 80% of his total offerings this season. He also features a changeup, which he uses 13%, and a curveball that comes in at 8%.
As for Smith, it will be a much-needed fresh start with a Toronto team that will hopefully be able to find him more at-bats than he had with Texas.
Coming into the season, the hope was that with extra playing time, Smith would be able to find the form that earned him a Silver Slugger in 2024
Following struggles while getting the majority of the reps at second base to begin the season, Smith began to lose playing time, eventually resulting in multiple stints with Triple-A Round Rock.
In brief Major League time with the Rangers this season, Smith was hitting just .213 with one home run and 8 RBI.
Most recently, Smith was sent back to the Express after shortstop Corey Seager was activated from the Injured List.
Stephan, on the other hand, will be heading to the Blue Jays without any Major League experience.
The Grand Preire native has been healthy this season for one of the first stretches in his professional career and has posted a 5.44 ERA in 101 innings with Round Rock this season.
