Rangers acquire outfielder Will Venable from Padres
The Texas Rangers acquired outfielder Will Venable from the San Diego Padres.
Texas announced the deal Tuesday night. San Diego received minor league catcher/outfielder Marcus Greene and a player to be named later from the Rangers, who designated outfielder Michael Choice for assignment in a corresponding move. Venable, who will be a free agent after the season, reportedly went unclaimed on waivers, allowing San Diego to deal him to a team of its own choosing.
The 32-year-old Venable has hit .258 with a .696 OPS this season, to go with six home runs and 11 stolen bases. The move comes after Texas outfielder Leonys Martin was placed on the disabled list Monday. Venable has experience at all three outfield positions and provides depth for the Rangers as they make a push for a playoff berth.
Texas sits four games out of first in the American League West and one game behind Baltimore and Los Angeles for the final wild-card spot.
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Greene, 20, had Tommy John surgery in June and began the season at Class A, where he hit .218 with an .865 OPS in 96 plate appearances. MLB.com's Corey Brock reports that the player to be named later is viewed as a “key piece” to the deal, and is a player closer to the majors than Greene.
General manger A.J. Preller says San Diego will call up Triple A centerfielder Travis Jankowski on Wednesday, reports the San Diego Union Tribune. There has been speculation that the Padres could make additional moves before the end of August.
- Jeremy Woo
