Oakland and Texas Trade: Andrus and Davis Swapped

Photo Via: Ron Jenkins - Getty Images
Photo Via: Ron Jenkins - Getty Images

In a trade between divisional foes, the Texas Rangers are surrendering their most tenured major leaguer to the Oakland Athletics. Elvis Andrus has been at shortstop for Texas since 2009, when he debuted and played a full season in the big-leagues. Andrus immediately showcased his speed and contact abilities, along with a good glove, hitting 8 triples and stealing 33 bags in his rookie season while finishing as runner-up for AL ROY. He was a constant in the lineup, playing in 145+ games in 10 of his 11 seasons before the shortened 2020 schedule. With the departure of shortstop Marcus Semien to the Toronto Blue Jays via free agency, the Athletics needed to fill the 6-hole. Andrus waived his no-trade rights in order to be dealt to Oakland, and will receive an $800,000 assignment bonus.

In order to acquire their new everyday shortstop, the A’s parted ways with veteran DH/OF and slugger Khris Davis. He remarkably hit .247 in four consecutive seasons, but is more well-known for his ability to mash home runs, even while playing in the extremely pitcher-friendly home stadium in Oakland. He hit 40-plus homers in three straight seasons from 2016 to 2018, but has declined since then. He only played in 30 games in the shortened 2020 season and was only able to muster up 2 home runs. That does not mean the pop has completely faded out of his bat, and perhaps a change of scenery will spark another powerful season from the righty. Davis will likely serve as the designated hitter in Texas, as Shin-Soo Choo remains a free agent after mostly filling the role for Texas.

Andrus and David were only two of the five players included in the trade. Here is the full trade:

OAK Gets: SS Elvis Andrus, C Aramís García, $13.5M cash

TEX Gets: DH Khris Davis, C Jonah Heim, RHP Dane Acker

Aramís García is not exactly prospect-aged (28 years old), but provides the Athletics with minor league catching depth. García debuted in the majors in 2018, then appeared again in 2019 but did not play a major league game in 2020. In 111 plate appearances, he has a .229 average and hit 6 home runs.

Jonah Heim, 25, was the 9th ranked prospect in Oakland’s system, according to MLB.com and becomes the 26th ranked prospect for Texas. He debuted in the majors in 2020 and appeared in 13 games. He is also familiar with the trading process, as this becomes the third time Heim has been dealt in his professional career. In 2016, the Orioles (who drafted him in the 4th round of 2013), traded Heim to the Rays for first baseman Steve Pearce. In 2017, the Rays traded Heim to the Athletics for infielder Joey Wendle. Now, Heim goes to Texas and joins Sam Huff among the top catching prospects in the organization.

Right-handed pitcher Dane Acker was the Athletics fourth round pick in the 2020 draft. At the University of Oklahoma, Acker was only able to make 4 starts prior to the season’s cancellation due to COVID-19. But in the year prior while he attended San Jacinto College, he recorded a 10-0 record and a 2.36 ERA in 14 starts. His fastball sits in the low-90’s and is supplemented by a curveball and slider.

Financially, the Rangers gain future flexibility in exchange for adding to their 2021 payroll. The Rangers take on all of the $13.75 million owed to Khris Davis this season, but then he becomes eligible for free agency in November. Texas will pay $13.5 million towards the $14 million 2021 salary of Elvis Andrus. The Athletics will only be responsible for $500K of Andrus’s salary this season, but he will be owed $14 million in 2022, then has an option worth $15 million for 2023. The 2023 option is a club option that will convert to a player option if Andrus records either 550 plate appearances in 2022 or 1,100 plate appearances in 2021 and 2022 combined. All in all, the trade marks a rare swap of veteran players within the same division.

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