The Texas Rangers have agreed to terms of a trade that sends outfielder Nomar Mazara to the Chicago White Sox for a Class-A outfield prospect, Steele Walker. The deal went down right during the time where Gerrit Cole signed the monstrous nine-year, $324 million contract and may have flown under the radar, but the White Sox have a new right fielder. Evan Grant of Dallas Morning News reported the trade followed by MLB dot com’s TR Sullivan, who noted the return of Walker heading to the Rangers.
Sources: Rangers have agreed to deal Nomar Mazara to Chicago White Sox. I have a feeling this may get overshadowed in light of Gerrit Cole news.
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) December 11, 2019
Rangers are getting Steele Walker in return for Nomar Mazara… Class A CF
— TR Sullivan (@Sullivan_Ranger) December 11, 2019
The White Sox have made moves this offseason, signing catcher Yasmani Grandal and ensuring that Jose Abreu is returning have made them look more and more like a contender. They have also been looking into some big-name starting pitchers, and the trade for Mazara makes them look like they are ready to start contending. In 2019, Mazara hit .268/.469/.318 with 19 home runs and 66 RBI for the Rangers. He will look to bring a stellar bat in the middle of the White Sox lineup.
Heading back to the Rangers is a Class-A outfielder prospect who jumped between Single-A and High-A last season. Walker has been in the minors for two summers, last year being his first full summer since coming out of the University of Oklahoma. In 120 games last summer between the Class-A affiliates, Walker hit .281/.451/.361 with ten home runs and 62 RBI. The Rangers seemed to have given up a lot in exchange for a prospect who still needs to prove that the talent will remain throughout his development, but the Rangers seem to want to make Joey Gallo the everyday guy out in right field.
