Rangers Acquire LHP Andrew Chafin From Detroit in Exchange For RHP Chase Lee and RHP Joseph Montalvo

The Texas Rangers have announced that the club has acquired left-handed pitcher Andrew Chafin from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for minor league right-handed pitchers Chase Lee and Joseph Montalvo. To make room for Chafin on the club’s 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Jonathan Hernández has been designated for assignment.

Chafin, 34, has gone 3-2 with one save and a 3.16 ERA (13 ER/37.0 IP) in 41 relief appearances for the Tigers this season. He has allowed just one earned run over his last 17.0 IP (0.53 ERA) with 26 strikeouts spanning 18 games since June 8, ranking among A.L. hurlers in that span (min. 15.0 IP) in FIP (1st, 1.10), ERA (2nd), and strikeout percentage (3rd, 39.4%). Opposing left-handers are batting just .180/.261/.312/.474 (11-61) with no home runs off the southpaw in 2024.

An 11-year Major League veteran, Chafin carries a 20-26 record, 3.39 ERA (184 ER/489.0 IP), and 20 saves across 580 games/3 starts with Arizona (2014-20, 2023), Chicago-NL (2020-21), Oakland (2021), Detroit (2022, 2024), and Milwaukee (2023). The left-hander has recorded 60-or-more relief appearances in six consecutive 162-game seasons (2017-19, 2021-23), as his 479 games pitched since 2017 are tops in all of baseball.

The Kettering, Ohio native was originally selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 1st round (43rd overall) of the 2011 MLB Draft from Kent State University.

Lee, who turns 26 on August 13, has gone 1-0, 1.93 ERA (3 ER/14.0 IP) with 18 strikeouts/7 walks over 11 appearances/one start for the Arizona Complex League Rangers (Rk.) and Round Rock (AAA) this season after opening the campaign on the Injured List while recovering from hip surgery performed on December 5, 2023. The Birmingham, Ala. native has spent all four years of his professional career in the Texas farm system after he was selected by the club in the 6th round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of the University of Alabama, compiling a 6-7 record, 14 saves, 3.76 ERA (63 ER/150.2 IP), and 206 strikeouts (12.3 SO/9) over 123 games/5 starts in the minor leagues.

Montalvo, 22, has posted a 4-2 record and 2.44 ERA (16 ER/59.0 IP) with 73 strikeouts in 13 starts for High-A Hickory this season. The right-hander has gone 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA (52 ER/177.2 IP) in 45 career games/31 starts over three seasons in the Rangers organization. The Bayamon, Puerto Rico native was originally selected by Texas in the 20th round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Central Point Christian Academy (Kissimmee, Fla.).

The 28-year-old Hernández went 3-1, 5.05 ERA (23 ER/41.0 IP) with 36 strikeouts/26 walks in 26 appearances/one start for the Rangers this season. He opened the campaign on the Injured List while recovering from a right lat strain sustained in the latter portion of the 2023 regular season but was activated on April 22. The Dominican Republic combined to post a 13-8 record, 4 saves, a 4.18 ERA (70 ER/150.2 IP), and 147 strikeouts (8.8 SO/9) over 124 games/3 starts across five seasons in the Major Leagues with Texas (2019-20, 2022-24).

Following today’s transactions, the Rangers remain at the 40-man limit on the club’s Major League roster, along with five players on the 60-day Injured List: Evan Carter, Carson Coleman, Jacob deGrom, Tyler Mahle, Cole Winn.