Rangers Acquire Matt Garza from Chicago Cubs

It was first reported by Fox's Ken Rosenthal that a deal that would send Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Garza to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Mike Olt, minor league pitcher C.J Edwards, and a third player was near. Now it's official. Matt Garza is the newest member of the Texas Rangers. The Cubs offically get Mike Olt, Justin Grimm, C.J Edwards, and a player to be named later. I really like this deal. Garza is a guy who has pitched some really big games when he was a member of the Tampa Bay Rays, including getting a win in Game 3 of the ALDS in Arlington against the Rangers in 2010 when Tampa Bay was facing elimination. He has good composure, good stuff, and knows what he is doing on the mound.

Garza has had his fair share of injuries, but when healthy is one of the top 10 pitchers in baseball. He had a bad outing in Cincinnati on June 11th, but since then has been lights out. Since June 11th, Garza is 5-0 with a 1.24 ERA in 43 2/3 innings. Overall on the season, Garza is 6-1 with a 3.17 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 71 innings. Not too shabby especially if you compare them to Justin Grimm, who's spot in the Rangers rotation Garza will be taking. On the season, Grimm is 7-7 with a 6.37 ERA on the year. I think I'll take Matt Garza over Justin Grimm any day of the week.

Now with all this said, this trade better not be the only one the Rangers pull off before the July 31st deadline. Pitching isn't the only need this team needs. They need a big bat in the line up. I've stated before a few names that I think would be good bats to bring in, but none bigger than Miami Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton. He is having a down year this year, hitting .236 with 10 home runs and 27 RBI. But he is playing on a team that is going no where and he has openly admitted that he wants to leave the Marlins. He felt betrayed and lied to when the organization traded away top guys like Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle to the Toronto Blue Jays. Stanton is playing on a team he doesn't want to be on. Put Stanton in the Rangers line up, at hitter friendly Rangers Ballpark In Arlington, on a team that is in contention and I believe that you will see the Giancarlo Stanton of old come back to life.

So come on Jon Daniels and company. Make that deal happen. If you got to trade Jurickson Profar to get Stanton, then for goodness sake get rid of Profar.