Rangers Trade Closer Joakim Soria to the Tigers

The Detroit Tigers have acquired former All-Star closer Joakim Soria from the Texas Rangers for prospects Jake Thompson and Corey Knebel. This is a move that Detroit needed to make if it was going to be considered serious contenders in the American League down the stretch. Detroit’s bullpen currently ranks 26th in the Majors with a 4.37 ERA. 

Soria boasts a 2.70 ERA with 17 saves on the season. He also has a ridiculously high 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

Going to Texas in this deal are two prospects, as the Rangers look to sell off some of their valuable assets in what has been a lost season.

Knebel ranked sixth among Tigers prospects prior to the start of the season. He has a 6.23 ERA in eight appearances for the Tigers in 2014. The former first-round pick in the 2013 MLB draft put up an ERA under 1.80 between Double-A and Triple-A earlier in the season. He projects as a late-inning bullpen arm.

Jake Thompson was 6-4 with a 3.14 ERA in 16 starts with Single-A Lakeland prior to the deal.

Photo: CBS Sports