PBR's Texas Rattlers Completes Game-Changing Trade with Freedom for Vastbinder
As the 2023 PBR season begins to near it's apex and the championships in Las Vegas inches closer, teams are beginning to position themselves for the stretch run.
On Sunday evening following Thunder Days, the Ariat Texas Rattlers pulled off an exciting and perhaps game-changing trade with the Oklahoma Freedom.
For the Captain no less.
The Rattlers received the Freedom's captain, Eli Vastbinder from Oklahoma, in exchange for youngster Dawson Gleaves and a 2024 second-round pick and future considerations.
Vastbinder is well known in the sport for not just being among the best, but for also being chosen with the first pick in the inaugural draft in 2022. He was also featured on PBR's docuseries "The Ride" which is currently aired on Amazon Prime.
The Freedom will surely miss their captain and paragon, but this move allows them to build for the future as they currently stand with a 10-9 record.
"Eli [Vastbinder] was a part of the inauguration of PBR Teams as the No. 1 Draft pick for Oklahoma Freedom,” said Cord McCoy, Head Coach Oklahoma Freedom. “He will forever hold an important part in getting Oklahoma Freedom started. As team Captain, he was so valuable in making Oklahoma Freedom what they are today, and building what we stand for. He played a great part, but we’re turning the page. To watch Dawson Gleaves at the Combine and what he’s done and how he performs for the Rattlers, we are excited to have the youth and the fire that Dawson brings to bull riding.”
As Coach McCoy points out, while Vastbinder is an integral member of whichever team he is on, Gleaves is an exciting, young rider.
The 22-year-old joined the Rattlers after being selected in the first round of the 2023 PBR Teams Reserve Roster Draft. Since that selection it's been all success.
At the 2023 Camping World Team Series launch event in Cheyenne, Wyoming Gleaves made his debut with a 90-point ride. He played an integral role in the Rattler's success this season and has a 63.6-percent ride percentage. He has also gone 2-for-11 for the Rattlers.
It's a significant trade that could shakeup the landscape with just three events left to go before the Las Vegas Championship.
Make sure to keep up with the action as The PBR Camping World Team Series travels to Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, for PBR Cowboy Days Sept. 22-24.
