The Diamondbacks and Rangers will meet today to discuss potential trade scenarios surrounding the Rangers’ stock of quality relievers and the D-backs’ new surplus of starting pitching options, reports Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan reported earlier today that the two sides have been discussing a potential deal. Jack Magruder of Fanragsports.com hears that Archie Bradley isn’t likely to be traded by the Diamondbacks after the team already parted with Aaron Blair (Twitter link).
Keone Kela, in particular, is drawing league-wide interest, according to Grant, though it’s difficult to envision the Rangers willingly parting with five years of the standout rookie, barring a substantial return. It was recently reported that the Rangers were open to including breakout closer Shawn Tolleson in trade talks, and the team also has an impressive stockpile of arms with considerable club control, including Jake Diekman, Sam Dyson and Tom Wilhelmsen (in addition to Kela and Tolleson).
Arizona has a number of mid-rotation options that could be of interest to the Rangers, including Rubby De La Rosa, Chase Anderson, Zack Godley and Robbie Ray, with right-hander Braden Shipley representing a high-quality, upper-level prospect that could contribute in the near future. (Although, the Rangers would presumably want more immediate rotation help were they to deal from their impressive bullpen.)
Of the pitchers listed from either team each (with the exception of Wilhelmsen) can be controlled for at least three more seasons, so either club could be picking up a relatively long-term asset should the two sides agree to a swap involving Major League parts. Suffice it to say, the specific permutation of a trade between the two sides is impossible to peg at this juncture, making speculation a perhaps futile (but nonetheless entertaining) endeavor. General managers Jon Daniels and Dave Stewart will have no shortage of options to discuss, but the two do indeed seem to be a good fit on paper.
I wonder if the Rangers would consider trading for Jon Niese, who is cost controlled (1yr @ 9m, then 2 club options for $10m). He has been putting up #3 numbers at a #5 cost. His stats line up w. Wade Miley, who just garnered a nice return.
I think they are probably looking for a young right handed starter considering our rotation is so lefty heavy right now. I think they would just resign Colby Lewis rather than trade for a 4th starter
I bet it’ll be Godley or Anderson. Doubt Dbacks want to give up Bradley, Ray or Shipley after losing Blair yesterday
Moreland and tollenson for Bradley and a catcher
The DBacks have the best 1B in baseball. Why would they want Moreland??
After that Shelby Miller trade, I want to trade with the Diamondbacks too.
Does not seem wise to deal the depth they have in bullpen, Darvish/Holland will be very limited, which is already going to be taxing on the bullpen, the rotation holes can be filled with all of the buy low SP’s available on the market, I think trading from BP depth creates more problems for the Rangers than it solves.
The issue with “buy low” is that SP is still expensive. There may be a 1-2 yr deal out there for some re-treds, but anyone with any value will be 5m-10m/yr.
That said, I actually agree about keeping depth in the BP and trying to fill the 5th/6th spot from within. I don’t know their farm system, but hopefully they have 1-2 AAAA types that can fill in at #5 for the league minimum.
Here’s a brief summary of the Rangers top pitching prospects in the minors.
Major League Ready:
Chi Chi Gonzalez walked more than he struck out last year, but is mine and probably the Rangers’ first choice. Nick Martinez has been less than impressive in his big league action but he could hold it down for a while if need be.
Raw Prospects:
Dillon Tate, Michael Matuella, and Luis Ortiz won’t be ready for at least another year (likely more in Ortiz’s case) since the Rangers probably don’t want to rush their development.
Starters Turned Relievers:
Luke Jackson and Andrew Faulkner were starters that converted to the bullpen and thrived in that role in the minors, so they probably stay relievers, at least for now.
Side Note:
There was a fair bit more rotation depth prior to the Hamels deal, as Jerad Eickhoff, Alec Asher, and Jake Thompson were all nearly big league ready and Matt Harrison was making progress in his return from spinal fusion surgery, though counting on him to make a big contribution wouldn’t have been a good choice.
De La Rosa looks intriguing. He was a 14 game winner last year. His ERA was not that impressive (4.67) but he put up 188 innings and had a 2.3 Strikeout to Walk ratio which isn’t too bad. We could use another 10 game winner in the rotation. Also, he is only 26 years old and won’t be a free agent until 2019.
De la rosa has the stuff of an ace. ++change up, +fastball and average curve. Some games he’ll pitch as though he’s an upper echelon type pitcher. Others he’ll look lost, and give you a very short day. The pros definitely outweigh the cons with him though. You can definitely see some flashes pedro martinez in some of his pitching.
Still very young though, like you said. I can see his potential range as high as a strong number 2, to a bittom of a number 4 starter.
Consistency would be his biggest nemesis right now.
I like RDLR but he struggles against lefties. He has great stuff and if he can improve against lefties he would be a very solid innings eater. At worst a very effective bullpen arm against righties with upper 90s velo.
“Arizona has a number of mid-rotation starters that could interest the Rangers”
You mean like Shelby Miller? Oh wait….
Miller had 15 starts in which he allowed 1 run or less and six starts in which he took a no hitter to the sixth. Mid-rotation guys don’t do that.