Rangers trade Abreu to Royals

Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesThe Texas Rangers have traded Albert Abreu to the Kansas City Royals for Yohanse Morel, the team announced last night. Abreu, a righthanded relief pitcher, had been designated for assignment earlier this week to make room on the roster for Josh Smith.

Abreu, 26, was acquired by the Rangers right before the season started, along with Robby Ahlstrom, from the New York Yankees in exchange for catcher Jose Trevino. With the Rangers have acquired Mitch Garver from the Minnesota Twins, Trevino and Jonah Heim were competing for the backup catcher job this spring. Once Heim won the job, the Rangers opted to deal Trevino, even though Garver’s…