When the signing of OF/1B/DH Joc Pederson was officially announced, the Rangers needed to create room on the 40-man roster so they DFA’d RHP Grant Anderson. On Thursday night it was announced that the Rangers were dealing the DFA’d Right Hander to the Milwaukee Brewers for 21-year-old Lefty Pitcher Mason Molina who was selected in last years MLB draft in the 7th round by the Brew Crew.
Mason Molina
The 6’ 2” Lefty spent his first two collegiate years at the University of Texas Tech before transferring to the University of Arkansas. Molina mostly relied on his Fastball and Changeup combo during his collegiate time, also working in a low 80s Slider and a curveball he wasn’t too accurate with. His fastball sits in the lower 90’s and tops out at 95 while his changeup is by far his best-graded pitch while sitting in the low 80’s. He struggled more in his year at Arkansas to find the strike zone than his previous two years at Texas Tech and will need to relocate the strike zone if he wants to have success at the pro level. He pitched just five innings in low-A last year after being drafted where he didn’t allow a single run fanning six and only walking one. He will be a work in progress and will be interesting to see how he fares in his first full year in the minor leagues and if he takes any major strides this offseason and during the year to become a contributor at any level of the organization.
Grant Anderson
Anderson made a name for himself when he made his debut in 2023 vs the Detroit Tigers when he allowed just one hit in 2.2 Innings while striking out 7. Unfortunately for the 27-year-old, that wasn’t a sign of things to come as he had a 5.05 to finish out the year. Anderson’s 2024 wasn’t any better as he struggled to stay up with the ball club as he consistently was called up and down throughout the year. He fared much better in his AAA outings where in 27.2 Innings pitched to the tune of a 2.93 ERA while not giving up a single long ball in the process and having an 11.1 K/9. It was a tale of 2 sides for Anderson as in 26.2 innings with the Rangers he couldn’t seem to find a groove as he had an 8.10 ERA while giving up 11 Long Balls. The Rangers didn’t see Anderson in the future of the Rangers bullpen and was time to cut him loose. He will go to a Brewers organization that has been developing all-star-level pitching over the last decade in hopes of honing his craft and getting a fresh start with another club. We wish nothing but the best for the 2023 World Series Champion in his journey as he heads to Milwaukee
