With the Rangers heading into the offseason in dire need of starting pitchers, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News runs down several options they could consider in the coming months. Red Sox pending free agent Nathan Eovaldi is among them, and the Rangers “have always liked him,” Grant writes. The 28-year-old returned from 2016 Tommy John surgery to post a 3.81 ERA/3.60 FIP with 8.19 K/9, 1.62 BB/9 in 111 regular-season innings between Tampa Bay and Boston. While Eovaldi could be a realistic offseason target for the Rangers, the same may be true of Giants left-hander Derek Holland, who’d “love” to return to Texas, according to Grant. Holland – who, like Eovaldi, is a soon-to-be free agent – was a Rangers draft pick in 2006 who had a largely successful run with the franchise through 2016. After a couple down campaigns, the 31-year-old has revived his career in San Francisco, where he has put up a 3.61 ERA/3.89 FIP with 8.88 K/9 and 3.51 BB/9 in 169 1/3 frames this season.
- Rangers outfielder Nomar Mazara may undergo right thumb surgery after the season, Grant reports. The thumb has troubled Mazara throughout the second half of the season, including when he sat out from mid-July through mid-August, and has likely played a role in his poor post-All-Star break production. After recording a .789 OPS in the first half of the season, Mazara’s down to .679 in the second half. Texas will know more on the 23-year-old after he visits a hand specialist Tuesday.
- Assuming he’s healthy, Mazara’s sure to once again occupy a starting spot in the Rangers’ outfield next season. There’s uncertainty in center field, though, as Grant points out. While Delino DeShields has been excellent in the field, his offense has been woeful. And slugger Joey Gallo, who has played some center of late, may not be a long-term fit there. “I don’t think I’m a center fielder,” Gallo said. “But I’m not against it. It definitely affects you physically. But it also gives you a lot more value. Can I do it? I’ve already done it this year. I do think it adds to what I can do to help a team win.” Along with Deshields and Gallo, Texas has Carlos Tocci and Scott Heineman among its in-house options, and general manager Jon Daniels suggested the team could add center field help over the winter. Regardless, it seems he’s prepared to field inquiries for the outfielders already on hand. “I feel like the outfield is an area of depth,” he said. “I think it’s an area we will get hit on [by trade requests] this winter. Everything is interconnected.”
jorge78
Is Jon Daniels on drugs?
He’s definitely tripping…..
TheTrotsky
Honestly I don’t understand the way Rangers fans obsess over Mazara. The guy is barely replacement level and despite being only 23 hasn’t shown any promise of being the all Star he was touted to be in his first year.
jdgoat
I never realized how mediocre he has been. I’ve always thought he was a pretty decent impact bat but he’s never even had a league average season at the plate.
Lance
we’re only three years into Nomar’s career and while he hasn’t been an all star, he has been a pretty darn good performer. keep in mind former rangers like sammy sosa, juan gonzalez, nelson cruz, raf palmiero weren’t stars from day one. i don’t think there is any “untouchable” on the rangers right now. but there are players you need to build around and mazara is one of those. if someone really wants mazara, they’re going to have to pay a lot for him.
madmanTX
The stuff above doesn’t even mention or quote Daniels. Put the crack pipe down.
Sirsleepit
Did you just skip the entire last paragraph madman? Because there is definitely a quote from Jon Daniels 🙂 read before you critique kiddo
bobtillman
Mazara is stuck with the “perpetual potential” tag for at least another year….if he doesn’t step up in 2019, it’s pretty much done.
Gallo in CF?????? It’s Saturday night, and I’ve had some adult beverages, but there ain’t that much booze in the universe……
Given where the Astros and A’s are developmentally, the Angels with Trout/Ohtanni/reasonably decent farm system, Rangers should tuck it in and play for 2022……
Fire Jon Daniels
Does anyone have less of a clue than Jon Daniels? How long can you ride on 2 pennants 7-8 years ago?
adshadbolt
Why is everyone hating on Daniels, he made the moves that all the fans wanted to try to win now and now there paying for those moves. What did the fans expect when u spend all ur money and trade all ur prospects that ur gonna win with 33+ year old players, not in today’s game. The rangers are in a rebuild and Daniels is the perfect guy for the job. He is a great talent evaluator on the international side the US side not as much but he has always seemed to make it work
Soapbox
I think the word’s out on JD, There seems to be really good to great players within MLB that will not play for JD for any amount of money. I suspect the same for quality managers. We’ll see what Daniels, Davis and Simpson comes up with this winter.
ffjsisk
Lol, Gallo can do anything to help a team win
mmurphf
This comment caught my eye too. Beisides be I g a guy who will never hit his weight he has a giant ego. Run his but outta here yesterday!
Lyman Bostock
I know you people hate on this when I say it … but good center fielders are very hard to find. Imagine having one for 18 years who averages 90+ runs a year over hose 18 years playing gold glove defense with a batting bag of almost .300 while slugging in the high .400’s. You’d have to call such player a hall of famer wouldn’t you? Kenny Lofton!!!!!!!!
Lyman Bostock
You guys are funny with all the Kenny Lofton Hate. It’s insane he didn’t even make the second ballot, and nobody seems to care smh
davidcoonce74
Well, Lofton should have been considered more, but he didn’t slug in the “high .400s”; his career slugging % was 423, and that was entirely batting-average dependent. His career high in homers was 15, and his career-high in doubles was just 35. He hit a fair amount of triples – led the league once – but Lofton was a singles hitter who stole tons of bases. His last All-Star season was age 32, and his career numbers just aren’t that impressive except for the steals. 2428 hits is a nice total, but Nick Markakis is going to end up with more. Rusty Staub had more.
Lofton’s black ink is pretty unimpressive – led the league in steals five times, triples once, at bats once and hits in the strike year. After his age-32 season he was a below-average center-fielder defensively.
He wouldn’t be the worst player in the Hall if he were selected, or even one of the ten worst, but I like that the MLB Hall of Fame is relatively exclusive compared to the other major sports.
Lyman Bostock
Fair argument, I must say. I would point to his elite career obp, 1500 runs and his 68 career WAR which should get him into the Hall. I’d disagree he was a singles hitter. Even though I overestimated his career slugging … the .420’s is more than a singles hitter and he def had some pop. Referencing his black ink during the steroid era isn’t really that significant to me and he’s a CFeadoff hittter so referencing his lower numbers is silly. Compare to him to other leadoff hitters and CF of his time. Compare his career WAR to the avg CF WAR in the HOF. It stacks up big time
Bubba 5
Yes go ahead Daniels and run out and spend on less than mediocre pitching.
CursedRangers
I agree with what your alluding to — Rangers starting pitchers suck. But mediocre starters would be a substantial upgrade over some of their current mix of starters.
Michael Birks
I think there might be a little competition for Eovaldi, I’m sure Boston will try to retain him
badco44
Try to keep in mind that the Sox are in a serious money squeeze coming with Mookie, Sale , JD, Porcello, … and top dollar on Price… can’t pay them all 30 mill, just saying
jb19
I don’t see why anyone would want to play in Arlington. They play on a 100 degree field and will be losing a lot for the next couple seasons.
txjags
Only 81 games left in the heat. In 2020, it’s bring on Globe Life Park and the A/C!
Autumn
I agree they won’t be good for a while. But will only play in hot weather for one more season.
steelerbravenation
I know from reading around the trading deadline the Rangers were interested in Gohora I wonder what they may have to offer ATL for a young major league LHSP ?
Any Ranger fans know what may get it done ?
tsc32
Would love Eovaldi.
Eovaldi
Minor
Jurado
Sampson
Mendez/Palumbo
That’s a rotation that I’d actually enjoy watching even though it’s still a rebuild.