On June 30, 2024, the Texas Rangers completed a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays, sending reliever Yerry Rodriguez in exchange for right-hander Josh Mollerus. This transaction represents the first major move for both teams as they approach the July 30 trade deadline. This period is crucial for teams to address their needs for the remainder of the regular season and beyond. The Rangers currently hold third place in the AL West with a 37–46 record, trailing the division-leading Seattle Mariners by nine games (47–38). Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are at the bottom of the AL East standings with a 38–45 record, 15 games behind the leading Baltimore Orioles (53–30).
Yerry Rodriguez had a challenging season with the Rangers, leading to his designation for assignment on Wednesday. He struggled with a 6.88 ERA over 12 games, allowing five home runs in 17 innings pitched. Throughout his tenure with the team spanning three seasons, Rodriguez faced issues with walks and home runs, posting a 7.11 ERA in 26 games with a 1.705 WHIP. Following the trade, the Blue Jays assigned Rodriguez to Triple-A Buffalo.
The Rangers chose to designate Yerry Rodriguez for assignment due to roster constraints, exacerbated by players being on the 60-day injured list. Recently, Max Scherzer was activated from the 60-day IL, adding to the roster management challenges. Looking ahead, the Rangers anticipate activating third baseman Josh Jung and possibly Cody Bradford within the next two weeks. Currently, they have a full 40-man roster, with players on the 60-day IL not counting against this limit but needing to be reinstated for activation.
Josh Mollerus, 24, joins the Rangers as part of the trade. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 10th round last year from the University of San Francisco. In the current season, Mollerus posted a 1–4 record with a 4.03 ERA across 22 games, recording 43 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched. The Rangers plan to assign Mollerus to Hickory in the advanced Class A Carolina League.
