ARLINGTON, Texas _ The selling is underway at Globe Life Park.
The Texas Rangers shipped veteran right-hander Jesse Chavez to the Chicago Cubs late Thursday night for minor-league pitcher Tyler Thomas in their first trade of a big leaguer ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.
Chavez can be a free agent at the end of the season, and the Rangers had recently started to showcase him in the later innings after he opened the year as the long man.
After a sluggish start, he became a valuable piece and leaves the Rangers with a 3-1 record, a 3.51 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 561/3 innings.
Thomas has posted some impressive numbers in his first full professional season. The Cubs' seventh-round pick last year, the left-handed Thomas went 3-5 with a 2.88 ERA in 15 games/14 starts at Low A South Bend with 88 strikeouts and only 15 walks in 75 innings.
Thomas joins a group of prospects below Double A. Two of those prospects, 2016 first-round Cole Ragans and second-rounder Alex Speas, underwent Tommy John surgery this season.
General manager Jon Daniels spoke to the media earlier Thursday but didn't indicate that any trades were near completion. He did say, however, that he expected several relievers in the majors to change hands ahead of the deadline.
Lefty Jake Diekman is also expected to be moved, and closer Keone Kela has been drawing interest from contenders. The Rangers' two biggest trade chips are Adrian Beltre and Cole Hamels.
