Fri, Dec 21, 2018 at 12:49pm

RANGERS JETTISON JURICKSON PROFAR IN 3-TEAM TRADE

In a three-team trade, the Oakland Athletics acquired infielder/outfielder Jurickson Profar from the Texas Rangers; the Tampa Bay Rays acquired pitcher Emilio Pagan and a competitive balance round A draft pick in 2019 from the Athletics and pitcher Rollie Lacy from the Rangers; Texas acquired pitchers Brock Burke, Kyle Bird and Yoel Espinal from the Rays, and infielder Eli White and international bonus pool money in 2018-19 from the Athletics.

What does it give the Oakland Athletics
The switch-hitting Profar has been around for a long time but he still only turns 26 in February. He now becomes Oakland's starting second baseman, replacing free agent Jed Lowrie and youngster Franklin Barreto. Profar belted 20 home runs and stole 10 bases in 2018, all while playing several different positions for Texas. His stock is on the rise after this deal.

What does it give the Tampa Bay Rays
For Tampa Bay, this deal helps the team shore up the bullpen a little more by adding 27-year-old Pagan (who is coming off a pretty good campaign in Oakland). He will likely be used in the latter innings by the Rays in 2019. Tampa Bay will also receive the 38th overall pick in the '19 draft from Oakland and pitching prospect Lacy (a 23-year-old wild card) from Texas.

What does it give the
Just when it looked like Profar was finally going to become the Rangers' everyday third baseman, following the retirement of Adrian Beltre, he was shipped to Oakland. Texas is in rebuilding mode and landed quality starting pitching prospect Burke, quality middle infield prospect White, two relievers (Bird and Espinal) and signing bonus money here. Great deal!

Fantasy impact
Profar's stock is up moving from Texas to Oakland (even though he will be playing half his games in a far more pitcher-friendly park). He is set to play every day at second base and could bust out offensively in 2019. Burke and White should be drafted in keeper leagues and have brighter futures with the Rangers than if they had stayed with their respective organizations. Pagan might become a fantasy factor in Tampa Bay's bullpen at some point in '19, while Bird has a chance to pitch immediately for the Rangers next season. Lacy and Espinal are longer-range prospects and are off the fantasy radar for the time being.