Rangers make Minor trade with Royals

There is a report that the Rangers have made a Minor trade with the Royals. Kansas City has traded Class A righthander Danny Gutierrez to Texas for AA catcher Manny Pina and AA outfielder Tim Smith.

Rangers officials refused to confirm the trade but…

Here is Jamey Newberg’s take on the deal:

Texas wins this deal on talent alone, but rumored, unspecified off-field issues with the 22-year-old Gutierrez (deemed to be the Royals’ number 7 prospect before the season by Baseball America) might have made him available when he otherwise would not have been. 

A 2005 draft-and-follow, Gutierrez has fanned 25 Carolina Leaguers in 27.1 innings for the Wilmington Blue Rocks this season, walking only seven and scattering 17 hits (.173 opponents’ average).  His ERA in four starts and four relief appearances is 1.65,  and get this – all the runs he allowed came in one game.  In his other seven appearances, he fired 22.2 scoreless innings. 

Last year, Gutierrez went 4-4, 2.70 for Low A Burlington, fanning 104 and walking 25 in 90 innings of work.