Commentary

Rangers need to swing for big arm

Jon Daniels is shown in this photo.
Jon Daniels is shown in this photo.

The way it started, yours truly was sitting across from Jon Daniels at spring training, asking why he didn't get Cole Hamels before someone else thought of it first. He brushed me off as he usually does when I play general manager.

photo

the Atlanta Braves’ Julio Teheran is shown in this photo.

Something about the Phillies wanting the Rangers' Mount Rushmore of prospects. Fortunately, as the father of four, I'm used to being ignored, and four months of badgering finally produced an ace.

You're welcome, by the way.

The reason this subject comes up again is because the roof has caved in on the Rangers' rotation, meaning it's time for me to kick-start Daniels before the club squanders this big, comfy lead in the West.

Only it's going to be much more difficult this time around, because there's no ace-on-the-block like Hamels this year.

The name of the Braves' Julio Teheran has come up most often, and we're hearing that their asking price starts with Jurickson Profar. The Rangers reportedly believe it's too steep for a guy they view as a middle-of-the-rotation starter at best.

Then there's the usual suspects: Oakland's Sonny Gray and the White Sox's Chris Sale. Maybe Miami's Jose Fernandez, too.

Billy Beane has said before that he's not interested in dealing Gray, and even if he were, he'd probably wait. Gray is off to a bad start for Oakland. Even if Beane wanted to make a deal, he's better off seeing whether Gray resorts to his old self in the second half and restores his trade value in the process.

Sale, on the other hand, is having a great season. Not only that, he's got a club-friendly contract. Which, frankly, is why the White Sox would be crazy to deal him. They can't decide whether they're in or out this season, but Sale is a keeper, either way.

Which brings us to Fernandez, one of the game's most promising pitchers. And the 23-year-old pitches for the Marlins, the National League's financial equivalent of the Oakland A's. He'll be arbitration eligible after this season, but the assumption is there's no way Miami will be able to afford him in a couple of years.

If you're the Marlins, though, what's the hurry? He'll still be worth just as much in a couple of years in a deal, maybe more, and they're hanging around the NL East this season with an outside shot at a wild card.

Bottom line: Daniels really has his work cut out for him the next month or so trying to come up with a top-of-the-rotation talent. Doesn't mean he shouldn't try, because, frankly, they're going to need that type of talent if they want to go deep into the postseason. Even if Yu Darvish and Hamels remain healthy and at their usual form, the Rangers are going to need a third starter in a playoff rotation.

Colby Lewis was looking like a very good No. 3 before he injured a muscle in his right arm last week, meaning he'll be out two months. On one hand, he should be able to return in September fresher than he'd be if nothing had gone wrong.

On the other, there's the question of how he returns. He's been as good as he's ever looked in a long, often frustrating career. Generally speaking, a pitcher in his position doesn't take two months off and come back like nothing happened.

And this is all best-case scenario. Because Darvish is still iffy after coming off Tommy John surgery and Derek Holland's on the disabled list, too. Holland's shoulder injury was probably good news. Otherwise, the only explanation would be that he's slowly pitching himself out of the big leagues.

If there were a likely candidate from within the organization, maybe Daniels wouldn't need to start working the phones so hard. But who do you call? Chi Chi Gonzalez? Kyle Lohse? Only as a 911.

Nick Martinez and A.J. Griffin are already here, and Griffin showed great promise before he got hurt again.

And that's Daniels' problem going forward. Except for Hamels and Martin Perez, all of the Rangers' best rotation candidates have been hurt at one point or another this season. Counting on everyone to stay healthy from here on out is a big stretch.

Before last week's cave-in, I'd have said the bullpen might have been a bigger need than the rotation. Now it's a no-brainer.

Daniels' primary efforts should be going for that top-of-the-rotation guy. If he comes up empty, he's got to go to Plan B.

Of the candidates, here's a name to consider: Drew Pomeranz. The Rangers liked the big lefty enough in 2007 that they drafted him. He went to college instead and has played for Colorado, Oakland and San Diego. He's off to a good start with the Padres this season.

Certainly wouldn't need much in the way of introductions when Daniels dials the Padres. A.J. Preller, the team's former assistant general manager, knows the Rangers' prospects as well as anyone.

Daniels also would be quick to tell his old pal, "Not so fast."

No, Pomeranz is not Hamels, and he wouldn't be a candidate for the playoff rotation. But he'd provide stability for the rotation in the interim. Probably allow Holland to move to the bullpen if Griffin holds up, too. And then the Rangers would just have to see who's the hottest for the No. 3 spot if the postseason comes.

All of this is not to say Daniels is off the hook in trying to find a top-of-the-rotation type. He's gotta try. It just means I can't help him this time, not that it's stopped him before.

Sports on 06/26/2016

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