Cardinals Trade Phil Maton To Rangers For 2 Minor Leaguers (Scouting Reports Included)
CARDINALS TRADE PHIL MATON TO RANGERS
Receive Minor League Pitchers Molina & Hales and International Bonus Pool Space
St. Louis, Mo. (July 31, 2025) — The St. Louis Cardinals have acquired minor league pitchers Skylar Hales, Mason Molina and International Bonus Pool Space from the Texas Rangers in exchange for right-handed relief pitcher Phil Maton.
Molina, 22, is a left-handed pitcher originally drafted in the 7th round (215th overall) of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers out of the University of Arkansas after transferring from Texas Tech University following his sophomore season.
The southpaw was acquired by the Rangers from the Brewers in January for RHP Grant Anderson. He has appeared in 20 games making 19 starts over the past two seasons topping out at High-A Hub City. Prior to his promotion, he led Hickory (A) with 62 strikeouts and ranked 3rd in the Carolina League.
Molina joins the Cardinals organization with 3-5 record and 3.19 ERA with 98 strikeouts over 79.0 innings pitched averaging 11.2 strikeouts/9 IP. He was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week in April following a 6.0-inning perfect start with five strikeouts at Charleston on April 18.
The Irvine, Calif., native played high school ball at Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo, the same school that produced former Cardinals infielder Nick Punto as well as Joshua Fuentes, the cousin of Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado.
Hales, 23, is a right-handed pitcher drafted by the Rangers in the 4th round (108th overall) of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Santa Clara University.
Over three professional seasons, Hales has compiled a 5-6 record with a 4.75 ERA over 85 relief appearances including 15 saves in 21 opportunities. He has a 1.16 WHIP and averages 10.5 strikeouts/9 IP over 100.1 innings pitched. The Reno, Nev., native ascended the Rangers’ minor league ladder to Triple-A Round Rock and has made seven appearances there since his promotion at the beginning of July.
Maton, 32, a nine-year Major League veteran, was 1-3 with a 2.35 ERA in 40 appearances with St. Louis this season.
— STL —
The final (and only) trade of the day for the Cardinals. Maton was as good as gone the minute the Cardinals signed him, except for the brief period the team played better than expected; Maton was a key reason for that. He was easily the best reliever over the tenure of his Cardinal career.
Molina is the more intriguing of the 2 pitchers received. He throws a low-90s fastball that can touch 95; it has pretty good movement. It plays well with his fading changeup, which has been considered a plus pitch by some experts. The 2 pitches work well together because the fastball stays up in the zoneHe also has a slider and curve, but neither are that great right now.
He’s got the current profile of a reliever, but will probably stick to the rotation to see how the slider and curve progress. I’d say his ceiling is a #4 starter; floor is mop up reliever. He’s ranked #26 by MLB.com for Cardinal prospects.
He’s been assigned to Hi-A Peoria.
Hales was drafted as a reliever, spent his time in the minors as a reliever, and is going to be a reliever in the Majors if he makes it; he’s got 2 pitches with a max effort delivery. The fastball sits in the high-90s, touching 99. He pairs that with a slider that is at least average.
His numbers look rough on the surface, but he’s got good stuff that could turn into a decent career if he can harness it.
He’s probably the safer of the 2 players; he’s got a higher floor, but lower ceiling. That ceiling is a closer; the floor is a short term reliever who looses effectiveness after a couple of seasons.
He’s been assigned to AAA Memphis.
While the addition of International Signing Bonus Money might not seem sexy, it’s a good sign for the organization moving forward. The Cardinals traditionally haven’t been major players in the international market; they’ve traded bonus money away in the past for borderline prospects.
With Chaim Bloom in charge and adding the money, I think they might start dipping their toes into Central and South America a little more. It’s just one more avenue to add players into the system. Yeah, it’s really like playing the lottery; you don’t know how some of these 16-year-olds will develop, especially when they move away from their families and to the U.S.
A Blaze Jordan scouting report is still coming.
