Assessing The Texas Rotation

The Rangers' starting rotation currently consists of Kevin Millwood, Adam Eaton, Vicente Padilla, Kameron Loe, and Juan Dominguez.  Guys like C.J. Wilson, John Wasdin, and knuckleballer R.A. Dickey could enter the picture as well.

The front three, while health risks, are fairly solid.  I know the Rangers are enamored of Loe following his 3.42 ERA in 92 innings last year.  But the lack of Ks and abnormally low accompanying hit rate spell darker days ahead.  Still, if Loe can keep his ERA in the low 4s the Rangers would be ecstatic.  So he's not a problem.

Dominguez just needs to keep his ERA under 5 to maintain the fifth starter spot.  I think he's capable of that.  Still, if he or Loe flames out or one of the front three gets injured, the Rangers would hate to turn to Wilson, Wasdin, or Dickey again.  I think it's highly likely that they'll need to get a lot of starts out of someone not in the current front five.

The safe bet: acquire another veteran starter and use Dominguez in a swing role.  The Rangers have several options here that could be helpful.

According to this morning's Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Texas is interested in reacquiring John Thomson.  Thomson is a control pitcher who's been about league average in preventing the longball.  He ate 217 innings for the Rangers in 2003 while posting a 4.85 ERA and 1.30 WHIP.  The 32 year-old makes $4.75MM and is in his contract year.  The Braves are considering moving him and putting Kyle Davies into the rotation.  In 2005, Thomson missed several months after tearing a tendon in his middle finger.

Then there's Jason Marquis, also an impending free agent.  He can probably provide 200 innings of a 4.50 ERA, which means a lot in Texas.  Swapping Kevin Mench for Marquis could make some sense.

Other than those two, there's the pie-in-the-sky idea of luring Roger Clemens.  Seems quite unlikely but would obviously be ideal.  Jose Contreras, Erik Bedard, Matt Clement, and Bronson Arroyo are on the market for the right price.  And though it's a slim chance, if there's one team for which Kerry Wood might waive his no-trade clause in July, it's probably the Rangers.          

Comments

[Brandini]

Erick Bedard is available? All offseason the Orioles wouldn't even THINK about moving him and Cabrera and apparently Leo Mazzone has already made his mark on all those young arms. I don't see the O's even thinking about moving Bedard unless they get a major league ready prospect. OR, possibly in a Tejada trade(if that is still swirling around).

Possibly its my Canadian bias.

[RumorMonger]

The Orioles did a whole lot of thinking about moving him this offseason. If they let Mora walk, maybe they'd want Blalock.

[TNS]

Clement, Graffanino & cash for Mench & Laird sounds like a good fit. Red Sox need more stability at backup catcher & a solid right-handed corner outfielder. Rangers get Clement who easily would be the #2 or 3 in the rotation & Graff holds down second base until Kinsler is ready.

[Kyle]

Sticking Clement in Arlington would be horrible. Not to mention he is way to expensive I think the rangers would prefer Arroyo or Wells. Either of them could slide in as a 3

[Matt]

i think that the Mench fo Marquis is the most reasonable trade since like u said the cradinals are searching for a LF, i may not be the biggest marquis fan but i think he would fill the void at our #4 spot in the rotation.

[Cubbies in my stove]

I would love it if we did Walker, Wood, & Williams for Michael Young :)
Hendry has a legitimate shot at this since the Rangers do need a 2B & Starting Pitching

[kip]

dont get ur hopes up cubbie

[Aaron]

I don't know what you guys are smoking, but I sure wish that I had some...j/k. C'Mon Walker, Wood, Williams for Young. Young is the leader and corner stone of the the Rangers, Walker is on the way out in Chi, Williams isn't the pitcher that everyone thought that he would be and Wood is injury prone, all for a guy who led the league in hitting and is a perenial all-star....start coming up with some REAL trade scenarios and make coversation more appealing!!

GO RANGERS!!!

[Kyle S]

Rangers get Marquis and Thomson
Cards get Mench and Rentaria
Braves get Eckstein

[Braveswin]

That same article points out that Phil Nevin who is expendable could possibly be sent to Atlanta for Thomson.

Jurries, Diaz, Kelton, and maybe Jordan are already in competition for backup 1B. Nevin's salary is $10M this year and I think it would be hard for the Braves to take in much of the leftover cash. Regardless of what happens, Thomson is defintely subject to trade.

[RumorMonger]

I'm with you - I don't see the Braves wanting Nevin for Thomson. Thomson has value still and is affordable but Nevin is not.

[Kyle S]

If the Rangers throw some cash in with Nevin (about 6 Mil.) the Braves could send Kelton and a pitching prospect to Texas

[Joseph]

Eckstien? Yuck...No Thanks...

Nevin makes no sense in ATL..Jurries is a better option as part time 1B, and Nevin is terrible in the OF...

[pudgefan7]

It would be great if Texas could take the pressure off Loe by adding another starter. I think if the Rangers pick up a Marquis or Arroyo maybe people would start giving Texas a little respect. I doubt that they would give up Mench though, he's very popular in Arlington and he would leave somewhat of a power hole in the lineup if he left. If Nix is fully recovered and guaranteed healthy then maybe a Mench trade is possible, but I doubt it. But Jon Daniels seems to enjoy shaking things up, so I wouldn't put it past him.

[Kyle S]

Thompson for Loe and Nevin