Rangers Acquire Geovany Soto From Cubs

The Texas Rangers have acquired catcher Geovany Soto and cash considerations from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for minor league pitcher Jacob Brigham, as first reported by David Kaplan of CSN Chicago.

The 29-year-old Soto is having a career worst season at the plate and is batting just .195/.278/.345 in 197 plate appearances this season. We've seen the Rangers work magic with catchers before, though, and Soto is a good defensive catcher.

For the Cubs, the team acquires a starting pitching prospect in Brighmam. The 24-year-old is repeating Double-A this year, and shown statistical improvements. In 21 starts, the right-handed pitcher has posted a 4.28 ERA across 124 innings with a 2.52 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

The most important factor to consider with this acquisition is the fact Soto is arbitration eligible at season's end and under team control through 2013. Because of that, he does provide some insurance to the Rangers if the team were to lose catcher Mike Napoli in free agency this off-season.

But for the more immediate future, this could be a sign Yorvit Torrealba, the Rangers' current backup catcher, will be moved via trade or designated for assignment.

David Kaplan of CSN Chicago was first to report the Rangers acquired Soto, Danny Knobler was first to report Chicago's acquisition of Brighmam and Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram added the Cubs are sending cash considerations.