The Rangers claimed first baseman Ryan Garko off waivers from the Mariners, according to a team press release.
The Giants non-tendered Garko in December, and the Mariners signed him in February for $550K with plans for a platoon with Casey Kotchman. Instead Garko will be paired with Chris Davis in Texas, given the former's ability to crush lefties. The move ends the Mike Lowell trade talk for now, which was never too serious during the spring anyway.
Guest 2943
Looks like Mike Lowell is staying in Red Sox Nation.
melonis_rex
Smart. Very smart.
Protects against Chris Davis posting up a sub-.300 OBP and/ or Vlad getting injured.
Guest 2944
Chris Davis should be traded to open up 1B for Justin Smoak in Texas.
jwsox
I dont know too much about smoak other than what the networks tell me but i doubt smoak makes the team much before june. They will hold him in the minors for a few weeks to delay his ARB given that he is a top prospect. But i doubt chris davis is traded there is still time for davis to turn into a beast
Guest 2945
Well they will obviously delay his clock but Davis has had two seasons and hasn’t made much out of either of them.
Yankees10
Well other than K’s he hasnt that bad. He plays a good defense and has good home run power. If he can return to how he played in 80 games in 08, then he could become the next Mark Teixeria.
Guest 2947
I think he is the next Mark Teixeira.
Yankees10
Davis right?
Guest 2948
Oh. I thought you were talking about Smoak.
Davis in that case needs to just not strike out.
Yankees10
Yeah if Davis could just cut down on those strikeouts he could be a great player. Right now he is just a good power hitter whose strikeouts outweigh his homers.
Guest 2949
Yeah. He’s also a tremendous defensive First Baseman. So for what’s its worth, the Rangers really have only one non pitch-to-contact pitcher in their rotation and that’s Rich Harden until Derek Holland gets called up. So they can really win games with their defense and offense even though their pitching is very questionable. In fact, I don’t see how Colby Lewis is in the rotation. Honestly.
Yankees10
Yeah I agree with Colby Lewis. I dont get it. I also dont get why CJ Wilson is there either.
Guest 2950
C.J. Posted a really good ERA in what was a great bullpen for the Rangers. Its not a bad bullpen now I’m just saying they put their lefty closer in the rotation, a pitcher who hasn’t pitched outside of Japan in a long time and never had success in the Majors, a pitcher recovering from injury, a sinkerballing “ace” who hasn’t had good control in Spring Training, and a pitcher with a great change up who hasn’t hasn’t made 33 starts ever.
Yankees10
Yeah they really are taking a risk with Lewis in the rotation, but at least they have some good arms in the minors who could replace Lewis or Wilson if they struggle.
Guest 2951
And if Harrison struggles. Don’t forget him.
Yeah so I think Derek Holland will be in the rotation by the begining of May. Kiker, Scheppers, soon. Hunter will be back from injury soon. Perez maybe.
I guess Feliz and Oliver in the late innings make it okay.
goodasgoldyesmaam
Terrific move. JD is smart.
texasmariner
Didn’t see this coming!!!! lol
diehardmets
Damn he would’ve been a great pickup for the Mets. A Jacobs/Garko platoon at 1B til Murph returns would have been pretty good. But Texas gets to grab him before the Mets so oh well.
alxn
Manny Acosta begins his reign of terror
Guest 2946
Nice move! I thought they would be dumb to acquire Mike Lowell but they didn’t.
if Justin Smoak is ready by July, I’d say trade Davis or Garko for pitching.
SolidarityInSF
Ryan Garko: epic meh.
coolstorybro222
….He can’t even play third what was the point of this.
swishasnkush
im pissed. mariners finally pissed me off. sweeney better do good the entire season….
damnitsderek
So with you. I can’t believe Sweeney fooled our management into thinking he’ll put up above replacement-level numbers all season.
NotWerthTheRiske
When will mitch moreland even come into the picture?