Word of the San Francisco Giants trading catcher Bengie Molina to the Texas Rangers spread quickly following the team’s loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday afternoon. By Thursday, the deal became official.
Molina, who was still with the Giants on Thursday, will hop a plane to Texas and be formally introduced as a Ranger.
In return, the Giants get RHP Chris Ray and minor league RHP Michael Main. Ray fly to Colorado to join San Francisco while Main will head to Double-A Richmond.
Ray has a career record of 12-17 with a 4.01 ERA. He has accumulated 50 saves with 193 strikeouts in 226 games. While with the Baltimore Orioles, he served as the primary closer in 2006 and 2007. In 2006 he earned a career-high 33 saves in 61 games. This season, the 28-year-old has a record of 2-0 with a 3.41 ERA, one save, 16 walks and 16 strikeouts.
Main was the first-round draft pick of the Rangers in 2007. The 21-year-old has a 14-13 career record with a 4.03 ERA. This season, he has a 5-3 record with a 3.45 ERA, 72 strikeouts, and one complete game shutout at Class A Advanced Bakersfield.
In his three plus seasons with San Francisco, Molina’s numbers were .276 BA, .303 OBP, .427 SLG, .731 OPS. He was an integral part in the success of the Giants pitching staff, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum. He is ranked second on the Giants All-Time Franchise list with 56 home runs and 260 RBI as a catcher.
The well-loved catcher will be missed in San Francisco. With this move, it is clear the changing of the guard has taken place now that Buster Posey will inherit the starting catcher's position.
Goodbye to the Molina era. Welcome the Posey era.
Check out Andrew Baggarly’s blog for details from his exclusive phone conversation with Molina.
For more from Claire, visit her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.
