New Delhi, July 30 -- ARLINGTON - The Texas Rangers got to work Wednesday, not by joining the bidding war for Tarik Skubal or Mason Miller, but by going in the other direction entirely. They traded a 19-year-old infielder nobody outside a Low-A scouting report had heard of for two major leaguers, and the most instructive part of the transaction was what it cost them.

With four days until the August 3 trade deadline, Texas became the first team to complete a confirmed acquisition of the pre-wire period, picking up catcher Logan O'Hoppe and right-handed reliever Chase Silseth from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for infield prospect Angel Arredondo. The deal is small by any measure the market uses. It is also the most honest window into...