Relief Pitcher Jesse Chavez Traded from Rangers to Cubs

A member of the Project Management Institute and resident of the Dallas, TX, area, Chad Greenslade has managed information technology functions for numerous application development and infrastructure projects throughout the course of his 19-year career. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chad Greenslade is an avid baseball fan who counts the Texas Rangers as his favorite Major League Baseball (MLB) team. 

Sitting in last place in the American League West division following the MLB All-Star break, the Rangers dealt veteran relief pitcher Jesse Chavez to the Chicago Cubs on July 19 in exchange for left-handed pitcher Tyler Thomas. A 34-year-old native of San Gabriel, California, Chavez was originally drafted by the Rangers in the 42nd round of the 2002 MLB Amateur Draft and has spent 11 seasons with nine different teams. Through 30 games this season with Texas, Chavez registered a 3.51 earned run average (ERA), while allowing 58 hits and striking out 50 batters in 56 and one-third innings.

Thomas, meanwhile, is the third minor-league pitcher acquired by Texas via trade since the beginning of the season. The 22-year-old lefthander was selected by the Cubs in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB Amateur Draft. He compiled a win-loss record of 3-5 and a 2.88 ERA at Class-A South Bend in the Midwest League.

High School Stars Are Rangers' Early MLB Draft Selections

A former IT manager and executive with Think Finance and Cardtronics, Inc., Chad Greenslade is skilled at providing oversight and leadership to capital and operational projects across various business lines. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chad Greenslade is a passionate fan of Major League Baseball's (MLB) Texas Rangers.

The Rangers missed the playoffs in 2017 and appeared early-on in the 2018 season to be on pace for a similar result. That meant increased expectations were placed on the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft, where the team had a chance to stockpile its system with talented, young players capable of contributing to a winning team in the future. 

With its first-round pick, 15th overall, the Rangers drafted right-handed pitcher Cole Winn out of Lutheran High School in California. He throws a fastball in the mid-90s and boasts a simple pitching motion that could see him reach the big leagues in the not-too-distant future. Texas used its first picks to draft high school players rather than already-established college players, though the high schoolers probably won’t make it to the “big show” until at least 2020, according to the Dallas Observer.

With its second-round pick, the team added right-handed pitcher Owen White out of Jesse Carson High School in North Carolina, although he had originally committed to the University of South Carolina. Shortstop Jonathan Ornelas, right-handed pitcher Mason Englert, and outfielder Jayce Easley rounded out the team's first five selections in the 40-round draft.