The Texas Rangers have stated they are trying to trade Sam Dyson. After designating him for assignment, the club is open to hearing offers for the pitcher. The Rangers will most likely trade Dyson before he even clears waivers. Jose Leclerc has been activated from the DL to fill the roster spot. He made rehab starts with Double-A Frisco after his injury.
When a team designates a player for assignment, they are removing him from the 40-man roster. The team then has 10 days to trade the player, release the player, place the player on waivers or outright the player to the minor leagues. Dyson is out of minor league options, so the Rangers cannot outright him without his consent. (source)
Dyson, a right-handed reliever, helped Texas earn American League West titles in 2015 and 2016. This year has not been the same. In 16 2/3 innings, Dyson carries an ERA of 10.80. He has walked 12 batters, only striking out seven. In that span, he has allowed 31 hits, six of them being home runs. Command and control have proven to be clear issues for him.
Hoping to see the same Sam Dyson that tossed in the World Baseball Classic, the Rangers slated him at the closer role. He was quickly demoted after blowing his first three save opportunities, all in April. Texas attempted to keep him in the bullpen, in a role that didn’t carry so much weight. However, Dyson still managed to do the club more harm than good.
Various rumors and sources are indicating that the Tampa Bay Rays, Minnesota Twins, and Detroit Tigers are all interested in acquiring Sam Dyson.
What are the Texas Rangers looking for in return for Dyson? What can a player with these numbers command? Ultimately, the Rangers may end up just getting cash. Fans don’t like to hear that, as it isn’t something tangible or something they can see produce on the field. Cash could be the best option at this point. At the moment, the club is higher in payroll than they would like to be. With more funds available, the Rangers can add a player at the trade deadline.
Another option is getting a young arm from a team’s Minor League Baseball system. It wouldn’t be a player with a lot of upside at the moment. It would most likely be for a player that teams still have questions about, or haven’t had enough time to evaluate their full potential. This would be a question mark for the Rangers, as they wouldn’t be certain how that player would pan out.
Whether the club takes cash, or gets a player for Sam Dyson, one thing is for sure. Dyson will not be a Texas Ranger in the next days to come.