Rangers trade ex-Lexington Christian standout Robbie Ross Jr. to Red Sox

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers traded former Lexington Christian Academy pitcher Robbie Ross Jr. to the Boston Red Sox for pitcher Anthony Ranaudo on Tuesday.

With the deal, the Rangers got the 6-foot-7 right-hander who didn't sign after being picked by them out of a New Jersey high school in the 11th round of the 2007 draft.

"He is a guy we like, we've liked for a long time," Texas General Manager Jon Daniels said on a call from the Dominican Republic. "When this trade came down, we liked the value."

Ranaudo went to LSU and was taken by Boston as a supplemental first-round pick in the 2010 draft. He made his major league debut with the Red Sox last season, going 4-3 with a 4.81 ERA in seven starts. He was also 14-4 at Triple-A Pawtucket, where he was chosen the International League's most valuable pitcher.

Ross, a left-hander, was 13-8 with a 3.98 ERA in his 150 games the past three years with the Rangers, who drafted him in 2008. He began last season in the Rangers starting rotation but eventually went back to the bullpen. He was 3-6 with a 6.20 ERA in 27 games overall last year with 12 starts.

The Rangers were looking to add left-handed depth in the bullpen before trading Ross. Daniels said he is confident they will be able to do that, though he is not sure if it will be before spring training begins.

Ranaudo, described by Daniels as having a quality four-pitch mix and a strike-thrower, will go to spring training in competition to be the No. 5 starter for Texas. If not in the Rangers' rotation, Ranaudo most likely will go to Triple-A Round Rock.

This story was originally published January 27, 2015 at 8:33 PM.