Rangers trade Darvish to Dodgers for prospects package

The best team in Major League Baseball pulled off a deal Monday afternoon for arguably the top starter available.

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired right-hander Yu Darvish from the Texas Rangers moments before the 4 p.m. ET non-waiver trade deadline in exchange for prospects Willie Calhoun, A.J. Alexy, and Brendon Davis, the clubs announced.

Darvish has been an All-Star in four of his five season in the majors, and joins a red-hot Dodgers team that owns a 14-game lead in the National League West.

The 30-year-old impending free agent has posted a 4.01 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 148 strikeouts over 137 innings this season. He had a 3.44 ERA heading into his last outing, in which he allowed 10 runs off nine hits in just 3 2/3 innings. Darvish later acknowledged that he was tipping his pitches.

Los Angeles owns an enviable rotation that will be boosted further when ace Clayton Kershaw comes off the disabled list.

Calhoun is the main piece for the Rangers, as the second baseman/outfielder was the No. 4-ranked prospect in the Dodgers' system, according to MLB Pipeline. The 22-year-old has hit .298/.357/.574 with 23 home runs, 24 doubles, and 49 strikeouts in 99 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City this season.

Alexy was the Dodgers No. 17 prospect. The 19-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.67 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 86 strikeouts with Low Class A Great Lakes.

Davis comes in as the Dodgers' No. 27-ranked prospect. The 20-year-old has slashed .245/.357/.403 with eight home runs, 19 doubles, and 107 strikeouts in 86 games with Great Lakes, while seeing time defensively at second base, third base, and shortstop.