The Texas Rangers have acquired right-hander Anthony Ranaudo from the Boston Red Sox for lefty Robbie Ross, both teams announced. 

Ranaudo, 25, is a product of Louisiana State University and was the Red Sox' first round pick in the 2010 draft (39th overall). He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2007 out of high school, but he did not sign. As a result, they have liked him for some time now. Ranaudo posted phenomenal numbers in Triple-A, working to a 2.61 ERA over 138 innings. He made his MLB debut this past August, pitching 39.1 innings over seven starts, going 4-3 with a 4.81 ERA (6.89 FIP) and a 1.398 WHIP.

The 25-year-old Ross is more established than his counterpart in Ranaudo, making his MLB debut back in 2012 and remaining with the big league club each of the past three seasons. With the Red Sox starting rotation quite full, he'll be expected to work out of the bullpen, where he holds a 3.27 ERA and a 2.38 strikeout-per-walk ratio. Ross posted an ugly 6.20 ERA overall last year, which was likely due to down strikeout numbers. In the two years prior, he was 10-2 with a 2.62 ERA in 127.1 innings.

This swap was of two young pitchers headed in different directions. Ross is more of an established big leaguer, and represents an upgrade in the Red Sox' bullpen, one that was in need of a lefty. He's headed to a team more built to win and will fit a need. While the Rangers are not expecting to win this season, Ranaudo is a good return, as he is likely still one or two seasons away from making a legitimate impact.

Overall, the swap is an even one, with the Red Sox taking the stability over the upside, while the Rangers take the upside over the stability, which fits to both team's needs. 

--Devan Fink

The Cincinnati Reds and catcher Devin Mesoraco have agreed to a four-year, $28 million extension, Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors reported, avoiding arbitration The Reds have announced the deal.

Mesoraco will earn $28 million as a base, receiving a $500,000 signing bonus, $2.4 million in 2015, $4.9 million in 2016, $7.2 million in 2017, and $13 million in 2018, according to MLB Trade Rumors. The deal also includes $2 million worth of performance bonuses. The deal can max out at $30 million. 

The 26-year-old Mesoraco was the Reds' 1st round pick in the 2007 MLB Draft and broke onto the scene in 2014, earning himself his first career All-Star nomination. He slashed .273/.359/.534 with 25 homers and 80 runs batted in over 440 plate appearances. He posted a 147 wRC+ in 114 games. Mesoraco became the full-time starting catcher in Cincinnati for the first time last season and proved his worth. 

Mesoraco's defense was solid as well, being both a good receiver and getting runners out at around an average rate. He was worth two defensive runs saved in 2014, but his defense rating above average found itself at 7.3. According to FanGraphs' "Dollars" statistic, which converts WAR to what a player would make in free agency, Mesoraco's performance would have netted him $24.1 million. 

While Mesoraco will not make $24.1 million at all during his contract, that is due to the arbitration process. He would have headed to arbitration for the first time this winter and would have made somewhere in the ballpark of his $2.4 million 2015 salary. 

From a player standpoint, Mesoraco's deal for an average of $7 million a year is a good deal. According to MLB Trade Rumors' Extension Tracker (which tracks data back to 2000), six other catchers have received extensions between their third and fourth seasons in terms of service time. On average, the players made about $4 million a year. So Mesoraco's performance played a big part in the higher AAV.

--Devan Fink

The San Francisco Giants and right-hander Ryan Vogelsong have agreed to terms upon a one-year deal, pending a physical, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman. Vogelsong will earn $4 million plus incentives on his pact, according to the San Francisco Chronicle's Hank Schulman. 

Vogelsong and the Houston Astros had been reportedly very close to a deal, but that dramatically changed after Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported that Vogelsong had "shifted course" and was in serious discussions with San Francisco. Vogelsong is a low-risk, potentially high-reward re-signing for the Giants, so this deal could be excellent for them in the coming season.

The 37-year-old Vogelsong has pitched each of the past four seasons with the Giants, earning two World Series rings with them (2012 and 2014). Last season, he pitched 184.2 innings, going 8-13 with a 4.00 ERA in 32 starts. Vogelsong's FIP was 3.85 last season, alluding to the fact that his ERA was inflated due to poor defense. He register a 7.4 K/9, a 2.8 BB/9, and a 2.60 K/BB ratios in 2014.

The Giants all of a sudden see themselves with a surplus of starting pitchers. Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, Tim Hudson, Jake Peavy, Tim Lincecum, Yusmeiro Petit, and now Vogelsong will compete for the five rotation spots. (Bumgarner, Cain, Hudson, and Peavy are likely locks.) In 2015, assuming Vogelsong does win the fifth spot in the starting rotation, Tim Lincecum and Yusmeiro Petit could be seen throwing out of the bullpen, which is already fairly deep. The Giants are putting themselves in a good spot.

Vogelsong's story is quite a good one. He was drafted by the Giants in the 5th round of the 1998 MLB Draft, and pitched a total of 34.2 innings for them in 2000 and 2001. He was traded to the Pirates in July of 2001 and spent the 2002 season in the minor leagues. He came back to Pittsburgh from 2003 to 2006, posting a 5.87 ERA in 274.1 innings. 

By then, he was considered a lost cause, pitching in Japan from 2007 to 2009, and coming back to the MLB in 2010. He signed minor league deals with the Phillies and Angels, neither of which worked out at all. At age 33, he came back to the Giants in 2011 and was an All-Star that year, pitching to a 2.71 ERA over 30 games (28 starts). Now, he is a successful big league pitcher.

--Devan Fink

The Atlanta Braves have agreed to sign outfielder Jonny Gomes to a one-year deal, they announced.

Gomes' deal includes a vesting option for 2016, according to Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports. He will make $4 million in 2015, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, Gomes' vesting option, which is worth $3 million, will turn into a team option if it cannot vest.

The 34-year-old Gomes spent 2014 with the Athletics and Red Sox, hitting .234/.327/.330 with six home runs and 37 runs batted in over 321 plate appearances last season. He had an 87 Adjusted OPS+ and a -0.3 fWAR. Gomes, who has been a full-time outfielder just once in his career, receiving over 500 plate appearances in 2010, was much better offensively in 2012 and 2013, as he posted a 142 OPS+ and a 110 OPS+ in those two years, respectively. Gomes' defense has always been subpar.

The Braves were in need of a short-term option in left field, after dealing Evan Gattis to the Astros. Gomes fits that bid, as he will move above Zolio Almonte on the depth chart. Gomes is leaving an Athletics team that has already solidified their outfield corps, with Sam Fuld, Coco Crisp, and Josh Reddick playing left, center, and right field, respectively. Gomes will likely serve as a filler until the Braves feel they can contend again, which could come in 2016 or 2017, when their new ballpark opens. 

Gomes was drafted by the then-Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 18th round of the 2001 draft and played for them from 2003 to 2008. He has since bounced around the major leagues, putting on the uniforms of the Reds, Nationals, Athletics, and Red Sox. Gomes is a lifetime .244/.335/.442 hitter and still has some of his pop from his prime.

--Devan Fink