It's a Small World After All

On July 31st, the Texas Rangers made some trades. They sent slugging first baseman Mark Teixeira and pitcher Ron Mahay to the Atlanta Braves for young catcher/first baseman Jarrod Salatalamacchia and a handful of prospects.

That same day, the Ranger sent reliever Eric Gagne to the Boston Red Sox for pitcher Kason Gabbard and a couple of minor leaguers.

When the Rangers made this deal, I wonder if they realize that they were reuniting two former high school teammates. According to sportsline.com, both "Salty" and Gabbard were teammates when they attended a Royal Palm Beach high school (in Palm Beach County, Florida). So on August 12, when the Rangers played the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the battery-mates teamed up once again. And it paid off, as the Rangers won the game 9-1.

Saltalamacchia has tremendous potential. He was a top prospect in the Braves organization, and has looked solid in his first major league season. Coming into Monday's action, he was hitting .264 with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs between the Braves and Rangers. In 2008 he should be the regular catcher for the Rangers, with an occasional start at first base to keep him fresh.

Gabbard looks to become an intricate part of the Rangers rotation in the coming years. This year, between the Sox and Rangers, Gabbard is 6-1 with a 4.65 ERA and a 41/55 walk-to-strikeout ratio. For the last several years, the Rangers have lacked in the starting pitching department - but perhaps they have found themselves a piece of the puzzle in Gabbard.