BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – Former Arkansas pitcher Mason Molina and outfielder Christian Franklin were among a host of Major League Baseball players that changed organizations on Thursday.

The left-handed Molina (6-2, 230) was of two minor leaguers traded to the St. Louis Cardinals from the Texas Rangers in exchange for relief pitcher Phil Maton.

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The deal, which also included right-handed pitcher Skyler Hales and International bonus pool money, went down right before the deadline of 5 p.m. CST.

Franklin was shipped from the Chicago Cubs to the Washington Nationals.

Molina pitched his final college season for the Razorbacks, going 6-2 with a 3.67 ERA while fanning a team-leading 108 strikeouts in a team-best 83.1 innings with 16 starts.

Previously at Texas Tech, Molina was drafted by Milwaukee in the seventh round of the 2024 MLB draft with there 214th overall pick.

Molina was then traded in the offseason to Texas for Grant Anderson.

In 74 innings across Single-A and High-A the past two seasons, Molina is 3-5 with a 3.19 ERA in 20 games, including 17 starts in 18 games this summer with the High A Peoria Chiefs.

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Hales was rated as the 28th top prospect in the Rangers organization and Molina No. 30.

Franklin and shortstop Ronny Cruz were dealt to Washington in exchange for pitcher Mike Soroka.

Franklin was a fourth-round picks of the Cubs in 2021 after a stellar career at Arkansas.

He hit .288 in his three-year Razorback career with 22 home runs, 99 RBIs and 26 stolen bases.

He has spent 2025 with Iowa in Triple-A, slashing .265/.393/.427 with eight home runs, 43 RBIs and 11 steals.

Franklin has hit .261 in his minor league career with 26 home runs, 145 RBIs and 63 stolen bases in his minor league career.

He missed all of 2022 with a torn patella in his left knee.

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Photo by John D. James

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