The first place Texas Rangers got a boost to their baseball odds on Wednesday when they made a trade with the San Francisco Giants that brought them catcher Benjie Molina.
The move could really benefit the Rangers in baseball odds as they lead the American League West.
Baseball odds on the Giants don’t figure to move much since San Francisco will move rookie Buster Posey behind the plate in place of Molina. The Giants will be receiving reliever Chris Ray and a player to be named later. The Rangers get Molina and about $2 million dollars.
Molina has been a key player for the Giants vs. the baseball betting odds during the past few seasons. He had to lead the club from the cleanup position in the batting order even though he was not a big power hitter. He was a huge help behind the plate to the San Francisco pitching staff including Tim Lincecum who won the CY Young award the past two seasons. The Giants will move Posey from first base to catcher and they may play either Aubrey Huff or Pablo Sandoval at first base. The Giants will also put Ray to work in the bullpen. He was 2-0 with a 3.41 ERA and one save this season with Texas.
The trade should really help the Rangers in baseball odds as they had absolutely nothing behind the plate. Their catchers were hitting .212 before Wednesday’s game and that was the worst in the Major Leagues. Molina has a career batting average of .275 and he can drive in runs, especially in the clutch. He is hitting.257 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 61 games this season.
The Rangers should not have been in the position to need a catcher but Jarrod Saltlamacchia has been hurt and not the same player he once was. The team has had to use Matt Treanor and Max Ramirez this season and neither player can hit. Molina should help the Rangers in terms of a hitting catcher but he will help them even more behind the plate vs. the baseball betting odds. He handles a pitching staff well and is a veteran who adds leadership to the clubhouse. The Rangers are second in the league in runs scored so they don’t need much help in that regard. They are just 11th in team ERA though so Molina should help in that regard as he gives the Rangers a veteran presence.