2011 MLB Trade Rumors: Rangers Targeting Andrew Bailey
By Editorial Staff
According to Ken Rosenthol of Fox Sports, the Texas Rangers are continuing their search for relievers. Even after signing veteran closer Joe Nathan, Rosenthol hears the Rangers are showing interest in A’s closer Andrew Bailey. Oakland has said Bailey is available this offseason, but the 27-year-old doesn’t figure to come cheap.
When I first read these reports I had to do a double-take. Last summer the Rangers added late-inning relievers Mike Adams and Koji Uehara. They just signed Joe Nathan to a $14.5 million deal last week. Why in the world are they still in the market for a reliever, much less another closer?
But, according to Rosenthol’s major league source, the Rangers “are going to get one more guy at the back end of their bullpen”. The source finished his quote emphatically noting that the statement was not speculation but instead a promise.
Before he signed with the Kansas City Royals, the Rangers were apparently interested in former closer Jonathan Broxton as well. If they would have brought Broxton in, Rosenthol speculates that he would have been used as the club’s 7th inning guy, with Adams remaining in his setup role.
While the Rangers did add Nathan last week, the deal allowed them to move their best bullpen arm, Neftali Feliz, into their rotation. For this reason the Rangers are apparently still looking to bring in a late-inning guy.
If they were to trade for Bailey, who will likely cost a significant return, he would slide into the setup role and push Adams back to the 7th. Rosenthol says that a better alternative for the Rangers may be to make a trade for White Sox reliever Matt Thornton, who the club is reportedly looking to deal this winter.
Along with Bailey and Thornton, there are several other options available on the trade market. Yesterday it was reported that the Giants are looking to deal either Jeremy Affeldt or Ramon Ramirez this offseason. On top of the trade market, Texas could look to bring in a free agent reliever to fill out their pen.
Either way, it appears the Rangers are not done adding relievers.
For more on the Rangers, be sure to check out Nolan Writin’.