Matt Garza Traded to the Texas Rangers

Jul 13, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matt Garza (22) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. The Cubs won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas Rangers have acquired starting pitcher Matt Garza from the Chicago Cubs, the club stated Monday evening.

The Rangers said they acquired Garza (RHP) for right-handed pitchers C.J. Edwards and Justin Grimm, infielder Mike Olt, and a player to be named later.

Texas (54-44) was unsuccessful in obtaining Garza last summer in a deal, but gain Garza as they trail the Oakland Athletics by 3.0 games in the AL West. The Cubs are fourth in the NL Central, trailing the St. Louis Cardinals by 16 games.

Garza, 29, will join the Rangers Tuesday.

This season, Garza is 6-1 in 11 starts with a 3.17 ERA. He’s allowed 25 earned runs in 71 innings pitched, with 62 strikeouts and 20 walks. The RHP has compiled a WHIP of 1.14, while holding opponents to a BA of .229.

The release stated in six starts since June 16, Garza has gone 5-0 with a 1.24 ERA with six earned runs in 43.2 innings, while holding opponents to a .210 (34-162) average with 10 walks and 38 strikeouts in that span. His five wins in that span are tied for the MLB lead, while his 1.24 ERA is the lowest in the big leagues among pitchers with more than 31.0 innings.

Garza didn’t make his first start of the season until May 21.

As for who the Cubs received, Edwards (a 48th round draft pick in ’11) is 8-2 with a 1.83 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 93.1 innings (18 starts) at Low-A Hickory this season.

Grimm is 7-7 with 68 strikeouts in 89 innings (17 starts) with the Rangers in ’13. He has 19 starts in MLB over the past two seasons.

Olt has a .213 average with 11 homers and 32 RBIs in 65 games at Triple-A Round Rock. He made his major league debut with the Rangers in ’12.