Texas Rangers Free Agent Targets: Which starting pitcher will they sign?
By Tim Boyle
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.