The Rangers will be without right-hander Colby Lewis for at least the next two months due to a strained lat muscle that was revealed by an MRI today, tweets Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Wilson adds that Lewis won’t throw for the next four weeks, at which point he’ll undergo another MRI to determine the progress he’s made before being cleared to begin a throwing program. Via MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan (Twitter link), Rangers GM Jon Daniels didn’t specify an immediate replacement for Lewis, but he called the loss a “kick in the gut.”
The loss of Lewis, 36, is indeed a significant blow to the Rangers. Texas saw Yu Darvish head back to the disabled list last week, and earlier today they placed lefty Derek Holland on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation. That’s sixty percent of the team’s rotation hitting the DL in the span of 10 days, leaving the club with a rotation consisting of Cole Hamels, Martin Perez, Nick Martinez and A.J. Griffin. As can be seen on their newly depth chart (reflecting today’s Lewis/Holland injuries), former first-round pick Chi Chi Gonzalez is already on the 40-man roster and just a phone call away at Triple-A Round Rock, so he could step into the big league rotation in short order.
That said, it certainly seems plausible that the Rangers will explore outside additions for the rotation. The Rangers have yet to announce any form of timeline for the returns of Darvish or Holland as they did with Lewis, so there’s some degree of hope that they can return sooner rather than later. However, replacing Lewis’ production will be no small feat for the Rangers. To this point in the season, he’s enjoyed an outstanding rebound, totaling a team-leading 98 innings and posting a 3.21 ERA with 5.6 K/9, 1.7 BB/9 and a 36 percent ground-ball rate. Metrics like FIP, xFIP and SIERA all call for a fair amount of regression, but Lewis has nonetheless been a rock in manager Jeff Banister’s rotation through the first 10 weeks of the season.
While the Rangers did part with a good deal of talent in the July trade that netted Hamels and dominant setup man Jake Diekman, Texas still has a well-regarded farm system that has plenty of upper-level bats if the team wishes to seek outside assistance for its contingent of starting pitchers. Daniels has never been shy about pursuing help on the summer trade market, and recent deals for Hamels, Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster exemplify that aggressive nature. Texas is 20 games above .500 and holds a 9.5 game lead in the American League West, so there might not be an immediate or urgent need to supplement the starting staff, but adding some established talent that could contribute in a playoff setting sometime between now and the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline seems like a logical play for Daniels and his staff.
Padres and Rangers look like they’re lining up for a trade.
They will probably match up best. SD would want crop of prospects and not necessarily be top 5.
every team is looking for SP. Guys like Rich Hill. Sonny Gray. Drew Pom are going to fetch top dollar. top prospects will be in deals for these guys. No way the Padres sell Pom without getting a top prospect back. the Rangers might have some offense but you dont win in the playoffs with out pitching. should be interesting to see how it plays out. the Astros are going to BUY and make a run at the Rangers. bet that.
The Astros will make a run at the Rangers, but I bet they don’t buy. They don’t need to. They are the hottest team in baseball right now and don’t have any glaring holes now that Gomez and Valbueana turned their seasons around. They may look at Chapman or Miller but since May 1st they have had the best bullpen in baseball.
Doesn’t matter. Starting 6-14 means they missed something in the offseason and they need to buy. Any team can get blazing hot at any time. They need to buy so they don’t fall into another sink hole. They weren’t even a good team last season. 18-7 start and one game under .500 the rest of the season. They need to buy yesterday.
I think it is time to go to Atlanta and c what it would take to get teheran from them or talk to Oakland about sunny gray
No way in division Trade,
A’s traded Scott Kazmir to the Astros in-division just last year. It’s not as rare an occurrence as some people would have you believe.
Guarantee Coppy starts with Gallo or Brinson.
I don’t want Gray right now anyway. Teheran I would love to have but I would also love to see Gallo take over for Moreland next year. I agree that ATL asks for Gallo but I think we turn it down. Just go get Pomeranz. Still effective but not as high of a price tag IMO.
Agree Gallo is hard to let go of, especially since he looks to get 550 PA next year easy.
Just curious if Gallo could play 3rd long term or LF? I would think 1st is where a team would get the most value from him and the braves have Freddie. So I’m not sure Atlanta would be asking for joey in a trade. Profar or Brinson maybe
Good point, but a power hitting LF is a need. Gallo or Brinson, Smith, and Inciarte is a pretty good outfield.
i just don’t see Texas parting with Gallo. They didn’t last year and Brinson is nothing to frown about. Package viz in there with him and see if profar could be had. Brinson by his self is not enough for Teheran I wouldn’t think so maybe that helps equal it out. Maybe give them a pitching prospect too.
I would be more shocked in Texas parting with Gallo than ATL parting with Julio.
See this is what everyone doesn’t realize about Gallo. His 3B defense doesn’t play long term. LF he could stick but 1B makes more sense and the Rangers are planning on him moving there next year.
A team wanting the most value for Gallo wouldn’t waste his arm at first. That’s the Rangers problem as we speak.
He’s a talented third baseman who would be wasting his rocket arm at first. So yes long term outlook and most value would be a third bagger with prodigious power.
Teheran, Vizciano for Profar, Brinson and Tate or Matuela?? Maybe.. Still not sure that Profar is a match for ATL, just because I think they have similar players in Swanson and Albies.. But I do think he is a good player..
Profar could man third for the foreseeable future. Riley nor rio should stop atl from taking him in return
Judging by his error numbers at AAA this season I would say there’s no way he is a major league 3B. Definitely profiles as a 1B or potentially OF. Rangers have started playing him more at 1B recently
Brinson is the only one they’d want. Maybe Profar, but Gallo is another lefty which is not what they want, and Profar is a hard sell as another middle IF.
With their offense, I think the Rangers won’t be desperate traders, much to the disappointment of GMs everywhere who think they’ll trade mug the Rangers.
Lewis stinks #killthewin
Rodney and Pomeranz for Ortiz/Brinson Matuella and Mendez?
Thank you for not being the Rangers GM.
Cashner, Ross, Pomeranz?
Here come all the Gallo + Brinson for ______ pitcher suggestions. Even with the injuries I think we keep those two guys, they are essential to our future. I think it is likely we chase bullpen guys like Abad or Jeffries. We are more than capable of getting those arms without selling the future.
As for the rotation, Griffin is back and Darvish is close. Unless a good opportunity for Pomeranz or even straily, just just don’t see us making a big splash at the DL. The wildcard is Profar he’s blocked at the MLBTR level and I think he really is available and should be able to help us upgrade the rotation. Not the bullpen.
I think ATL and Texas match up real nice here.. With Teheran and bullpen guys Vizciano and Krol, there are numerous variations where a deal could happen..
But in Texas we feel the opposite. Profar is available while Gallo is not. ATL has Swanson they don’t need Jurikson. If Daniels wouldn’t include Gallo for Hamels than he certainly won’t include him for Teheran. Viz is different, we could get him without losing Gallo and I would be just fine with that.
Yes but Hamels was also a $20M a year pitcher, Teheran is more cost controlled and could probably be extended cheaper than Hamels. Not sure how much a difference that would play.
I agree Profar won’t fit in ATL.. And ATL would def. ask for Gallo in a Teheran Deal.. Vizcaino for Matuella and Tavares or Cordell might be a match..
I’m not sure that changes the trade. Hamels is a 20 million dollar pitcher for a reason… as the Reds are currently learning.
I might ask you to take Ortiz instead of Matuella. I think this is the kind of trade that will actually happen.
No arguments there on what Hamel is, just think the contract value or even cost per win alters who gets involved in the package. Either way, none of us here will probably 100% correctly guess any trade package.
Yea but don’t forget that the Phillies took 33 millions in Matt Harrison and 9.5 on Hamels contract
Good call there.
I agree ^^ the Rangers have depth to trade but won’t trade Brinson or Gallo especially with Brinson struggling this year and Moreland becoming a free agent next season Gallo is lined up for 1B. Profar, Hoying, Nicholas definitely on the trade table. But wouldn’t be surprised to see them try to land some rotation stability. Chi chi has been awful in AAA this season with location issues. I’d prefer they dfa somebody off of our active roster, Claudio or someone. And call up Kyle Lohse.
Yeah I think that we have seen the chi chi Gonzalez experiment but I would like to c them call a guy like yohander mendez or connor sadzeck who have both pitched well in frisco this year
Mendez maybe. I’m not sold on Sadzeck as a starter.
No way they trade Profar. They never traded him away back then when he was the subject of bigger trades. He grew up with the Rangers basically. And after everything with injuries I find it hard to believe the would go around and sell him off now.. I know never say never, but with him playing 1b and 3b recently while Beltre was out. But these recent injuries look like it’s shaping up to be another addition to the rotation. The Rangers won’t go for in the playoffs with a patchwork rotation, we already saw how that went with only having Cliff lee and no one else. At this point you can’t count on the health of Darvish, and even though Colby has shown to be consistent these last couple years can’t be sure what to expect from him after a lengthy DL stint.
I love watching Profar play. But we just resigned Beltre and we have young guy coming up in Morgan who is supposedly quite capable. I think for the right move Profar is available. The issue in the past is that his value was low because of injuries. Value couldn’t be any higher now. The dude can hit.
Morgan doesn’t profile anywhere close to Profar as an offensive player
I’m absolutely not suggesting that he does. He is in the pipeline though. If I have to sell Profar this year to have a legitimate shot at a world series I think you have to consider it. I’m not suggesting sell low. Profar is great, get a good return and let’s make a postseason run.
Is John Danks injured or unwilling to do a minor league deal? Obviously not going to set the world on fire but could help the back end up the rotation, maybe he could have a Rich Hill esque revival pitching in his home state and returning to the team that drafted him.
I don’t see trade between Braves and Rangers . Braves don’t need 3b they have 5 future 3rd prospect . Riley, Ruiz, lanning ,Franco ,yepez and in future maitan what the need is corner power out fields .i like Gallo and profar but I just don’t see a match and besides . To get Tehran alone it will take bigger package then what we got for miller . So I just don’t see a trade now . I saw one. Last year but not this year. Teams that would make since are Yankees , Red Sox, Indians , Pirates , Astros , Cubs to some sort , Dodgers and Seattle, .
Teheran is not worth a bigger package than Miller. Heck, Miller wasn’t worth the package received for Miller. Teheran will garner one top prospect (a team’s #1-5), one mid-range prospect (#6-10), and 1 or 2 low-level lottery ticket types (#21-30 or lower). For the Rangers that is something like Brinson, Matuella, Payano, and Phillips.
Well hate tell you . Not get Tehran so keep dreaming .what you all don’t get brave don’t have to and really don’t want to trade him . For any team to get him they will have to give more then miller trade . This is sellers market not buy market
Oh and I love your trades in Hoopsrumors as well. Cannot wait until you jump into footballrumors too.
None of the third base prospects you named are sure things, nor would any of them exclude the braves from desiring Gallo if he was offered.
The truth is that Gallo isn’t guaranteed success (although I think he will be), and he isn’t guaranteed to stick at third either. However that wouldn’t keep them from taking a chance on him.
Many are mentioning Brinson, but I don’t expect the Braves would accept just him based on previous statements. Brinson may have tons of ability and promise, but has struggled this season. He doesn’t fit Coppy’s desire for a comparable (to Teheran) major league talent.
Good call Southi on Brinson, you are absolutely correct with the Coppy suggestion.
I would never give up Profar or Gallo for a starting pitcher. Although it would be nice to have Tehran, it is a luxury not worth either of those guys. Both are still very young, and will be playing every day very soon, not every 5th day. We dont need to panic right now. With Hamels and Perez pitching the way they are, and Darvish on his way back soon, we need to see how Griffin and Martinez do, and give Lohse a shot. We have a 10.5 game lead right now, and the goal is to reach the playoffs with Hamels, Darvish and Perez healthy, and hopefully Lewis will be back and fully rested by then. This could be a blessing in disguise for the long term. Have Lewis and Darvish fresh for the playoffs. Go find an innings eater that throws strikes,that wont cost a top prospect.
You guys ruling out a package headlined by Profar for Teheran because they have middle infielders set to come up make no sense. The guys Atlanta has right now aren’t MLB ready yet…Profar is. Having too many middle infielders isn’t a bad thing either as Texas as shown over the past. Adding Profar makes any of them tradable. I’d put money on a Profar package for Teheran & Vizcaino happening. If Atlanta is smart they’ll do it before the White Sox decide to sell off. I’m sure Texas would package Profar, Brinson, and others for Chris Sale.
The Braves aren’t getting anything close to the Miller deal for Teheran and your absolutely crazy if you think they will.
Remember, Texas and Atlanta has a history of big trades. The 5 for 1 deal involving Tex. Seems like ATL may be looking to get even.