Texas Rangers Free Agent Targets: Pitcher candidates

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Which Texas Rangers free agent targets have a realistic possibility of joining the rotation?

Often times, pitching will win championships. If true, it’s no wonder the Texas Rangers missed the 2017 postseason.

Pitching was not their strong suit. Unless they do something about it, they will again struggle in this department next year.

Andrew Cashner was the best pitcher the Rangers had, sporting an 11-11 record, to go with a 3.40 ERA for the Rangers in 28 starts. These numbers were hardly ace-worthy.

Meanwhile, Martin Perez led the way with 13 wins and 12 losses and a much more frightening 4.82 ERA. Cole Hamels also put together a less stellar season which included an 11-6 record and 4.20 ERA through 24 starts.

Even longtime ace Yu Darvish pitched poorly in 2017. In his 22 starts prior to the trade that sent him to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Darvish was just 6-9 with a 4.01 ERA.

The rest of the rotation is hardly worth mentioning. The Tyson Ross experiment failed and no young starter emerged as a serious candidate for 2018.

Impacted mostly by the loss of Darvish and Cashner, the Rangers will need to check the free agent market for viable replacements. Without a solid rotation, this team is doomed.

Taking a look specifically at free agent starting pitchers, we do see a few matches. While I do think the Rangers are a team that might sign a pair of starters, they need at least one guy to help Hamels get the job done.

Who will it be? Any of these three pitchers seem to fit what they need and can reasonably afford.

Yu Darvish

Familiarity breeds contempt but it sure does feel good to know what you’re getting yourself into.

This past summer, the Texas Rangers said goodbye to ace Yu Darvish in a trade executed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Darvish was valuable to the Dodgers through their playoff run until he hit a wall in the World Series. If anyone is ready to forgive Darvish for this, it’s the Rangers.

In parts of five seasons with the Rangers Darvish went 52-39 with a 3.42 ERA. He averaged 11 strikeouts per nine innings, while establishing himself as one of the American League’s best starters.

Perhaps the only negative thing to say about Darvish is he’s not an innings eater. Since he does strikeout so many batters, Darvish tends to see his pitch count rise very quickly. The Rangers know this already, so I doubt it plays much of a factor.

When it comes to reuniting with Darvish, it’s all about dollars and cents. How many years must Darvish receive on the big contract he’s about to earn?

As arguably the best pitcher on the open market, he’ll get to call the shots and request whatever he really deserves.

Jake Arrieta is the other starter out there with the potential to make “Darvish Money.” Because of his age and the fact that he would come into a brand new environment, it’s Darvish or bust when it comes to the top two names.

Lance Lynn

Free agent Lance Lynn bounced back well in 2017 after missing all of 2016 due to injury. Even with an ERA higher than what he posted in 2014 and 2015, Lynn still pitched well.

Most importantly, he was healthy and able to make a strong case in free agency.

If Lynn doesn’t return to the St. Louis Cardinals next year, his six seasons there should be considered a success. Lynn managed to go 72-47 while posting a 3.38 ERA.

Lynn’s consistency is shown in the fact that he has never finished a season with a losing record. During his first full season as a starter in 2012, Lynn managed to win a career-best 18 games and earn his way to the All-Star Game.

Lynn is a great fit for the Texas Rangers. He may walk batters a little too frequently and give up a few too many hits, but he keeps runs from scoring. The greatest bonus of all with signing him is that he won’t cost nearly as much as Darvish.

There is plenty of competition for Lynn’s services. He’s the type of pitcher I could see joining a contender with an already deep rotation

Also, this is the same burly starter I envision inking a deal with a team like the Minnesota Twins, to help get them over the hump.

One quality about Lynn every team should look at is how well he kept the ball in the yard up until 2017. This past season was the first to include more than a home run per nine frames.

While this should scare a few organizations off, those with a little more faith can expect him to again give up 13-14 a home runs per year. If he’s in Texas, though, maybe 20 is acceptable.

Lynn, who turns 31 in May, should get a good deal regardless. The Texas Rangers will need to act fast if they believe he’s the solution.

Alex Cobb

There’s a running theme with the pitchers on this list: all of them missed a full season at some point recently.

Alex Cobb experienced the same when he sat out all of 2015. The 2017 campaign proved he’s ready to return to action and deliver quality innings.

Cobb’s downfall has been health. Since debuting in 2011, he has never made 30 starts in a single season. He came close in 2017 with 29 appearances but came just shy.

Cobb is a little different from Darvish and Lynn. He doesn’t rely heavily on strikeouts. The bonus with this is that he also doesn’t walk as many batters.

Cobb pitches to contact more, and thankfully, this barely affected him during his six seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays. Like Lynn, it wasn’t until recently that he started to give up more than a home run per nine innings.

More from Call to the Pen

In the Rangers’ search for a new starting pitcher for the front of the rotation, Cobb’s pluses include his age and the expected cost.

Cobb is a year younger than Darvish and Lynn. He’s also going to earn the least amount.

Texas shouldn’t consider their pursuit of him as bargain shopping. Cobb is worth every penny.

More than Darvish and Lynn, Cobb is on the radar for teams looking to make a faster turnaround. I also believe there’s a greater chance he returns to his current team.

Cobb is a pitcher every team from the Dodgers to the Philadelphia Phillies will seek this winter. Far from an ace, he’s an arm that can help the Texas Rangers return to the postseason.

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