The Texas Rangers made a mad dash to the Monday non-waiver trade deadline, acquiring All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy from the Milwaukee Brewers and All-Star outfielder/designated hitter Carlos Beltran from the New York Yankees.
The Rangers confirmed the Beltran deal but had not confirmed the Lucroy deal. Two sources, though, had confirmed the Brewers trade.
The deals cost the Rangers five prospects, including three first-round picks since 2012 _ outfielder Lewis Brinson (2012) and right-hander Luis Ortiz (2014) in the Lucroy trade that also includes closer Jeremy Jeffress, and Dillon Tate (2015) in the Beltre deal.
Tate was the fourth overall pick. The Rangers also sent minor-league right-handers Erik Swanson and Nick Green to the Yankees.
Lucroy is considered one of the best catchers in baseball and has a club option for 2015 for only $5.25 million. Jeffress, who has 27 saves this season, can't be a free agent until 2020.
Beltran is in the final year of a three-year deal with the Yankees. He's a pure hired bat, at age 37, but he has impressed this season with 22 homers, 64 RBIs, and a .304/.344/.546 slash line.
He's batting .351 against left-handers.
