Rangers trade Craig Gentry, pitcher for Oakland prospect Michael Choice and infielder

The more I look at the Rangers - Oakland trade, the more I think Texas got the better of it. I'm trying to look at the deal from the Oakland perspective and here's why they made it.

They wanted to upgrade their center field position to spell Coco Crisp. They were willing to sacrifice power for speed & defense. Gentry gives them that. Crisp had an amazing 2013 but seems like they wanted to add a quality center field to start vs lefties and not miss a beat defensively. Gentry gives them that.

Is a 30-year old fourth outfielder who wasn't projected to start regularly in the lineup worth a #2 prospect in your system who hit .302 in AAA with 14 homers earning a September call up? I think not and make no mistake pitcher Josh Lindblom did not add any substantial value to this trade. He is a depth guy who at best can be a spot starter and long man out of the pen.

Choice instantly becomes the top outfielder prospect in the organization and could even get playing time at a corner outfield spot in 2014. Honestly, the Rangers just acquired a better more polished version of Mike Olt who can already play the outfield. He has plus power, strikes out often but not as ridiculous as Joey Gallo. The team would be wise to groom Choice to be the right fielder of the future to replace Alex Rios in 2015.

The infielder Bostick does little for me, it gives the team another talented infielder who shows some pop with the bat and quality defense at multiple positions. It gives the depth in the middle part but he's not an elite prospect anywhere close to Jurickson Profar, Luis Sardinas or Rougned Odor. The best anyone could hope for from Bostick is a utility infielder at the major league level but he's got a lot of competition in the minors.

Bottom line, think the Rangers stole a plus prospect from Oakland at a position of need for a 30-year old backup player and a non-factor pitcher.

Hello win column!