Some rumblings on the Rangers, who improved to 24-19 on Saturday:
- After acquiring top-end starter Cole Hamels at last year’s trade deadline, the prospect-stocked Rangers are well-positioned to make another major splash this summer, writes Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com. The Rangers aren’t yet engaged in “significant” discussions with other teams, reports Morosi, but he believes they could ultimately land another quality pitcher – be it a closer or a starter – and lists the Yankees’ Andrew Miller and the Rays’ Drew Smyly as possible targets. Texas would be “reluctant” to put together a package sufficient enough to land Marlins ace Jose Fernandez, per Morosi, who cites young infielder Jurickson Profar and corner infield/outfield prospect Joey Gallo as potential trade chips.
- The deadline is still a ways off, but the Rangers are poised to land a notable reinforcement in ace Yu Darvish, who hasn’t pitched since 2014 after undergoing Tommy John surgery a year ago. Darvish is on track to make his season debut for the Rangers next Saturday, tweets Morosi. Darvish’s last remaining hurdle is a 90-pitch rehab start Sunday for Double-A Frisco, relays Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
- Thanks in part to second baseman Rougned Odor’s forthcoming eight-game suspension, the Rangers might have to put right fielder Shin-Soo Choo back on the disabled list, as Grant details. Choo returned from a month-plus absence stemming from a calf injury Friday, but he had to leave the game because of a hamstring injury and is unlikely to play before Monday. Thus, rather than play with a 23-man roster and two-man bench (including a backup catcher), it could behoove the Rangers to return Choo to the DL and allow him to fully heal. “There is going to be a convergence of decisions,” manager Jeff Banister said. “We know we are going to have to play short-handed at some point. We are not in position to play ultra-short-handed.”
I hate to disappoint all these teams who are just certain they’ll trade for a frontline starting pitcher this deadline, but there aren’t any available. The Rays are doing just fine and Smyly’s cheap. He’s not going anywhere. The bad NL teams don’t have any likely suspects. The Padres guys are either hurt or bad. Sonny Gray was the last hope, but he’s stunk lately too.
link to espn.go.com
he dominated the red sox, cubs, pirates, royals.. should have went 6 against the diamondbacks if not for fredi gonzalez. i’d love to see some of those rangers prospects come atlanta’s way.
vizcaino, bud norris(96 on his sinker in the BP) and julio.. for?
The Padres actually have quite the unexpected trade chip in Drew Pomeranz if he can keep up his early season success. If (and when more than likely) the Padres fall out of contention, Pomeranz could net a healthy return if they sell high on his performance thus far. Fun fact: as of before his last start against the Giants, he had the highest K/9 in the National League in 2016. Even higher than Kershaw!
chipperjones4president Gallo, Tate and Ortiz easy….
Good joke man
Rangers are a deadline teams somehow forget about every time. They have a good to great team every year and farm is great, yet they always know how to pull off a great trade.
Too early to say nobody is available for the Rangers in a deadline trade. Lots of time for some teams to stink it up by then and turn into sellers.
*cough* link to espn.go.com *cough*
I’m surprised that it would take a lot to get Jose Fernandez who hasn’t played in the major leagues for 15 years. (Check the link for Fernandez)
I like how it has a picture of him in a Brewers hat, but he never played a big league game for them and was released in less than one calendar year.
Personally hoping the Rangers keep all their elite prospects: Brinson, Gallo and Profar. But it seems obvious Profar will be the first used.
So as a Braves fan I would love to trade for Gallo. We are in bad need of some pop and with a player like Gallo I can handle his strikeouts so long as he is giving me 100 RBIs a year. My question for those who are far more knowledgeable about the Rangers system than I am… What would it take to get Gallo from them? I’m assuming any package would have to start with Teheran.
I don’t know why Miami would trade Fernandez unless Texas or anyone were willing to give up a ton of prospects. The M’s having a good season so far and Jose isn’t eligible to be a FA for another three years. He would be a cornerstone of a championship team.
If the rangers added Fernandez with Darvish , Hamels , and Holland ouch,
Holland is a POS. All kinds of talent but garbage between the ears.