Texas Rangers: Still Searching for 5th Starter
The Texas Rangers are in need of a 5th starter for the upcoming season due to the recent setbacks of off season additions Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross.
The Texas Rangers were looking to bolster their 2017 push for yet another AL West title when they signed both Tyson Ross and Andrew Cashner this past offseason. However, with Ross down until the at least the end of April, and Cashner with a setback this spring, it has sent the Rangers scrambling to find back-end rotation help.
Currently locked into the Rangers rotation are Cole Hamels, Yu Darvish, and Martin Perez. But if the Rangers need to look internally, they have some very underwhelming options.
Internal Options
AJ Griffin – Griffin, who went 7-4 with a 5.01 ERA over 119 innings with the Rangers in 2016, is hardly the desirable option. Couple that with giving up 9 runs over 7.2 innings this spring, and AJ isnt making a great impression.
Chi Chi Gonzalez -The 25 year old Gonzalez impressed in his first 2016 Spring Training start, twirling 5 innings of one run baseball. He struck out 5 and allowed 4 hits and looks to continue to impress this spring as he makes his push for the Opening Day roster.
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The Market
As a more appealing option, the Texas Rangers could also look to the options out there on the free agent market. The market, although now a bit thin, includes options such as 2017 Ranger Colby Lewis, steady as they go Doug Fister, or perhaps Edwin Jackson.
Colby Lewis – Lewis made 19 starts for the Rangers in 2016 going 5-4 with a very respectable 3.71 ERA. Lewis would make the easiest fit as the familiarity is there.
Doug Fister – Fister presents a very viable option for the Rangers and spent his 2016 season in this same AL West with the Houston Astros. Fister is 2 years removed from his 2014 Cy Young caliber season with the Nationals and has made at least 25 starts in each of the past 5 seasons. On a team with injury concerns, Fister presents a bit of safety.
Edwin Jackson – The 14 year veteran presents a small amount of upside for the Rangers but after yet another porous season (5-7 with a 5.90 ERA) the Rangers might just be better off to stick inside the organization on this one.
If the Rangers are simply looking to bridge the gap until the injury bug passes, clearly the option is to patchwork the rotation internally. But with both Ross and Cashner with previous injury concerns, the Rangers could be looking to add the needed insurance if they want to continue their dominance of the AL West.