ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Tampa Bay Rays Communications) -- The Tampa Bay Rays have completed a three-team trade with the Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers, acquiring right-handed pitcher Emilio Pagán and a Competitive Balance Round A draft pick (No. 38 overall) from Oakland and minor-league right-handed pitcher Rollie Lacy from Texas. In exchange, the Rays traded to Texas minor league left-handed pitchers Kyle Bird and Brock Burke and minor league right-handed pitcher Yoel Espinal. In addition, the Rangers traded infielder Jurickson Profar to Oakland, and the Athletics traded minor league infielder Eli White and cash considerations to Texas.
Pagán, 27, has spent parts of two seasons in the majors with Oakland (2018) and the Seattle Mariners (2017), going 5-4 with a 3.85 ERA (112.1-IP, 48-ER), 119 strikeouts and only 27 walks in 89 appearances, all in relief. In 2018, he made the A’s Opening Day roster and went 3-1 with a 4.35 ERA (62-IP, 30-ER) and .230 opponents’ avg. in 55 relief apps over three stints in the majors. He held right-handed hitters to a .196 avg. (31-for-158), and in his career has limited them to a .193 avg. He was named to Oakland’s roster for the AL Wild Card Game, but did not pitch. Over six minor league seasons, Pagán has compiled a 2.46 ERA (263.1-IP, 72-ER) with 316 strikeouts in 173 relief apps. He was selected by the Mariners in the 10th round of the 2013 June Draft out of Belmont Abbey College (N.C.). He pitched for Puerto Rico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
Lacy, 23, was acquired by the Rangers last July from the Chicago Cubs as part of the return for veteran lefty Cole Hamels. Between three stops in Class-A in 2018, he went 6-4 with a 2.97 ERA (109-IP, 36-ER) and 121 strikeouts. He yielded 37 walks, only six home runs and held hitters to a .224 batting avg. (91-for-407). He was selected by the Cubs in the 11th round of the 2017 June Draft out of Creighton University.
Bird, 25, split last season between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham, going 3-3 with a 2.39 ERA (75.1-IP, 20-ER) in 43 apps (six starts). He recorded 88 strikeouts for a 10.51 strikeouts per nine innings ratio, and limited opponents to a .198 avg. (52-for-263). Following the season, he pitched to a 2.00 ERA (18-IP, 4-ER) in 18 apps for the Yaquis de Obregon in the Mexican Winter League. A graduate of Clay High School in Green Cove Springs, Fla., Bird was selected by the Rays in the 35th round of the 2014 June Draft out of Flagler College. Over parts of five minor league seasons, he is 15-7 with a 2.64 ERA (307.1-IP, 90-ER) in 185 apps (six starts). He was added to the 40-man roster on November 20.
Burke, 22, was the 2018 Rays Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going 9-6 with a 3.08 ERA (137.1-IP, 47-ER) in 25 apps (22 starts) between Class-A Charlotte and Montgomery. He led Rays minor leaguers with 158 strikeouts, ranked fourth in ERA and tied for fourth in wins. Following his July 9 promotion, he went 6-1 with a 1.95 ERA (55.1-IP, 12-ER) in nine starts for the Biscuits, including a 4-0 mark with a 1.35 ERA (33.1-IP, 5-ER) in his final five regular-season starts. He was selected in the third round of the 2014 June Draft out of Evergreen High School in Colorado and is 27-20 with a 3.41 ERA (387.2-IP, 147-ER) in 80 apps (74 starts) over five minor league seasons. He was added to the 40-man roster on November 20.
Espinal, 26, split last season between Charlotte and Montgomery, going 3-4 with a 2.25 ERA (64-IP, 16-ER) in 46 apps, all out of the bullpen. He combined between the two levels for 10 saves, second among Rays minor leaguers. Following the season, he pitched to a 1.80 ERA (5-IP, 1-ER) in five apps for the Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican Winter League. He was selected by the Rays from the New York Yankees in the Triple-A phase of the 2015 Rule 5 Draft. Over parts of six minor league seasons, he is 20-18 with a 4.04 ERA (334.1-IP, 150-ER) in 168 apps (26 starts).