Texas Rangers Ready to Showcase Chris Davis in the Outfield?

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The Texas Rangers could be ready to bring Chris Davis back to the big leagues but it's not to play first or even third base.

No according to reports, Davis is going to see playing time in the outfield at one of the corner spots and will move Josh Hamilton from a corner outfield position to center field. Something that could make just about every Ranger fan cringe after all the times Josh has run head long into the outfield walls.



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This is nothing more than the Rangers showcasing Chris Davis for a possible trade at or before the trade deadline at the end of July. Davis has seen time in the outfield with Triple-A Round Rock but if Major League teams are going to be interested in making a trade with Texas, they are going to watch him over the next few weeks to see how he handles the change in position.

The knock on Davis, however, isn't his defense but it's when he grabs a bat and steps to the plate. He has a ton of holes in his swing and hasn't had near the same success offensively that he's shown in the minor leagues.

That being said, Davis is still very much a hot trade commodity and the Rangers know it. If he wasn't they would have no reason to bring him up and stick him in the outfield. They know the problems he's had at the plate and they the risk they're taking in having him in the lineup on an every day basis.

But the Rangers need to show that Davis is a serviceable big league player because they themselves need to include him in a trade that would land them a big time reliever for the bullpen or starter for the rotation.

We have talked about a few names the Rangers could be looking at but what we don't know is which deal Davis would be included in.

The San Diego Padres aren't going to do a one-for-one deal with Heath Bell or Mike Adams. They may not even be interested in Davis seeing as they already have young infielders Anthony Rizzo, Jesus Guzman and Kyle Blanks able to man the first base position.

So if it's not Bell or Adams, where will Davis end up and what will he bring in return.

One deal I've talked about before on my podcast involves the Baltimore Orioles and right hander, Jeremy Guthrie.

This is a guy who could use a fresh start especially since he's spent his entire career with an Orioles' team that has no chance in winning their division let alone getting deep into the playoffs.

They are in need of an infielder like Chris Davis and could do send Guthrie to Texas without the Rangers having to give up a second player in the deal.

Also, the Chicago Cubs are about ready to waive the white flag on their season and could be willing to part with reliever Kerry Wood, again. The Cubs aren't going to sell high on Wood and may send him to the American League on a one-for-one swap.


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But there's one name who the Rangers could, and should, look at and he's another pitcher with the Chicago Cubs. Matt Garza was a guy who was brought to the windy city thanks to the aforementioned Kerry Wood and it seems as if the Cubs could very well be open to dealing him in the right trade.

Garza is a guy who really became a young star with the Tampa Bay Rays and it was one of the biggest reasons the Cubs landed him in free agency after the 2010 season.

He won a combined 34 games over three seasons with the Rays and never finished with an ERA worse than 3.95 during his time there.

This season hasn't been nearly as good to him but he has experience in the American League and he's only 27-years old, soon to be 28 in November, so you're getting a young pitcher who still has a lot of good years ahead of him.

There are more than a few names the Rangers will look at over the next month but their ability to make a deal hinges on how Chris Davis performs over the next month. If he struggles and his batting average takes a tumble, so will his trade value.

The Rangers are taking a definite risk but one they could really cash in on if it pays off.

Texas Rangers: Heath Bell or Mike Adams?

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The San Diego Padres are already waiving the white flag.

Well, at least if you listen to SI.com's Jon Heyman. His column this morning talks about the Padres already engaging in talks about closer Heath Bell and set up man Mike Adams.

"San Diego has even shown a willingness to at least engage in trade talk even about a star young reliever such as Mike Adams," said Heyman. "Padres people may ultimately decide to keep Adams, but they appear to be taking a very realistic approach to their team and season."

It's common knowledge the Texas Rangers are a team who will be looking for bullpen help at the trade deadline and they have already met with Padres' brass at Petco Park in late May.

While they won't be the only ones looking for a guy like Adams or Bell, most of the teams looking for pitching help are going to be focusing their attention on the Padres' set up man instead of the closer.


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One of the more obvious reasons might be the fact Adams will be under team control through the 2012 season and may not cost nearly as much to sign the right hander long term.

As of right now, Bell is making $8.5 million in what will most certainly be his final season in a San Diego Padres' uniform before he hits free agency. Once that happens, Bell is going to land a deal between three and four years and in the neighborhood of $10-$12 million per season.

The Rangers may not want to invest that much money, not to mention that many years, for a guy who is already 34 years old. You're looking at an investment that you hope stays healthy for a full three seasons at an age where most pitchers are starting to wind down their career.

Adams is the best option for Texas to go after but what they need to be concerned about, where both him and Bell are concerned, are the players the Padres will ask in return.

Not only will Adams be under a team's control through the 2012 season but his $2.5 million price tag and an ERA that hasn't been above 2.00 since the 2008 season makes him an attractive reliever in any bullpen.

If the Padres are really serious about selling off Mike Adams, it's going to cause a bidding war either in the days leading up to the deadline or just hours before it expires.

If I'm the Rangers, I get the asking price and figure out if it's something I can afford to give. If not, no matter how good Mike Adams is, I move to on other names who can help fix a struggling bullpen as well as a starter for the rotation.

There's no doubt Adams gives the Rangers' bullpen a much different look and a guy manager Ron Washington can hand the ball to knowing it'll be taken care of.

Heath Bell or Mike Adams? That is the question.

Texas Rangers Notes: Why Heath Bell May Not Be a Ranger After All

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With the trade deadline almost exactly a month away, the talk surrounding how to change and strengthen the Texas Rangers' bullpen will become a hot topic of conversation.

The one name who has continued to come up is San Diego Padres' closer Heath Bell. He's a guy the Rangers would love to have and a guy who would be a great fit at the back end of the bullpen.

But there's just one problem.


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Bell is a free agent after this season and there is no guarantee he will sign a long term deal with Texas. Being 34-years old and seemingly at back end of his career, Bell wants to go where he can finally win a championship.

He's been with the San Diego Padres for five seasons now and knows there really isn't a light at the end of their tunnel. At least not any time soon.

The Padres are going to look for some young prospects from any team showing interest. The Rangers will be one of those teams but the fear is having it end up as another "Cliff Lee deal." In other words, send prospects to San Diego for a three month rental.

Texas sent Justin Smoak to Seattle at the trade deadline last season in return for Lee even though they knew there was a good possibility he would end up going elsewhere once the season was over. Nolan Ryan didn't seem as convinced, even saying at times he felt confident that they would be able to get a deal done and bring Lee back for the 2011 season.

But, no matter how much they tried to talk to him and woo him back to Arlington, Lee did what was best for him and his family, eventually signing with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Well, as it turns out, the Rangers might have to compete with the Phillies once more. According to ESPN's Buster Olney, Philadelphia is apparently asking around for bullpen help and could turn their sights directly to the west coast and Heath Bell.

With Jose Contreras out four to six weeks with a strained forearm, it's only natural they would start shopping around to see who's available. The Phillies, already boasting the likes of Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, and the aforementioned Lee, would be an enticing place for Bell at this point in his career.

But unless the Rangers can talk Bell in to signing long term as a part of a trade, general manager Jon Daniels along with Nolan Ryan, might have a hard time giving up top prospects for yet another rental. Even with Bell in the mix, this team is still a long shot to get back to the World Series, let alone repeat as ALCS Champions.

Texas Rangers: Is Chris Davis Still on the San Diego Padres' Radar?

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The Texas Rangers are going to be buyers at the deadline especially where their bullpen is concerned. While we've talked about who they could possibly go after what we haven't talked about is who the Rangers might have to give up to make a deal.

Heath Bell seems to be the one player a lot of Ranger fans have their eye on as the guy who could bolster their bullpen and help them down the stretch towards the playoffs.

With that in mind, I talked to a source with knowledge of the San Diego Padres and what it might take to land Bell in a deal.



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"Nobody [in the Padres lineup] scares anyone," the source told me. "They have plenty of young guys now, they need a young player who has been around for a couple of years."

Chris Davis, a name who has come up on more than one occasion, has been mentioned in connection with the Padres. However, a few Padre fans have told me the team would have no need for Davis with Anthony Rizzo up with the Padres and Kyle Blanks returning next season.

"[Davis] would fit the description of a player who's been around for a couple of years but he hasn't put up consecutive solid years yet. He's going to hit a lot of home runs in the PCL and the Southern League. The ball flies there and there isn't big league pitching in either of those leagues."

Maybe that explains the struggles Davis goes through when he makes the transition from Triple-A Round Rock to the Rangers. He's hit five home runs over his last eight games, something that would make anyone stand up and take notice.

However, every time he's had success in the minor leagues, he's called up to the Rangers and just can't find the same kind of rhythm.

Davis hasn't had a real chance to play on an every day basis this season and it makes me wonder if he would have success if he could find a team who would want him as their every day first baseman.

There's no doubt Davis could be dangled in a deal but will it be enough for San Diego to relinquish their closer?

"Only think I could think of is the Padres can say no until they get what they want," said this source. "They don't have to rush to get rid of Bell. With each day that goes by his value skyrockets because the [trade] market is weak for prime pitching."

"The Padres are in the driver's seat for the deadline. There's always one team every year who goes all in and never wins the World Series."

Unless Davis comes up to the big leagues and lights Arlington fire at the plate, he may be staying in a Texas uniform. At least for the immediate future.

Things always change. Stay tuned for the next month and a half because things always get crazy a few weeks prior to the trade deadline.

That's when teams, in desperate need of an impact player, become desperate.

Texas Rangers Notes: Josh Hamilton, Francisco Rodriguez, Neftali Feliz, Brett Myers

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Josh Hamilton Blames His Blue Eyes



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Texas Rangers' outfielder Josh Hamilton has been notoriously bad as a hitter during day games. Well, apparently we now have the reason as to why he struggles.

He told the Rangers' Radio Network that having blue eyes makes it harder to see during the day. He has bought sunglasses to try and remedy the situation but it seems the damage is already done with the Ranger fans. Most calling him out for just being plain bad and others wanting Hamilton to stop with the excuses.

Whatever the reasons might be, Hamilton is hitting an abysmal .122 during day games this season without a single home run.

Rangers Scouting Mets' Closer?

With the New York Mets coming to town, the Rangers will get a first hand look at young reliever Francisco Rodriguez, a guy some thing the team could look at as a trade option at the deadline next month.

While he is one of the options I talked about yesterday, his recent struggles might keep him as a third or even fourth option if the other names the Rangers are after fall through.


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 Rodriguez has blown two of his last three saves and has given up eight earned runs in his last 10 innings pitched. He's not the same guy who set the baseball world on fire with the then Anaheim Angels.

The problem with K-Rod could have been told in an SI.com piece three years ago that talked about his inability to command his fastball.

A reliever like Rodriguez tends to try to throw a mid-90's fastball by Major League hitters but without command of that pitch, it's going to look like nothing but batting practice.

While he may not be their first option, the Rangers will still be looking carefully at the young reliever and how he handles himself in one of the biggest hitters parks in baseball.

What to do With Neftali Feliz?

With the Rangers looking to bolster their bullpen the question it will bring up with most fans and media alike is what will the team do with their current closer, Neftali Feliz.

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If you bring in a guy like Heath Bell it will mean the end of Feliz's closing days. You can't bring in a proven closer and a guy who has all the confidence in the world, and only allow him the set up roll.

There's no question demoting Feliz might bruise his confidence a little bit, maybe he needs to learn from a real professional and how he goes about his business as a shut down closer. Maybe he can learn from a guy like Bell on how to prepare himself both mentally and physically before he comes trotting out for the ninth inning.

As for next season, the Rangers had attempted to look at him as a starter but he didn't have the command or the pitches to be effective. But if Ogando can come out of the bullpen, become a starter, and be effective there's no reason Feliz can't do it as well.

If he continues to struggle in the back end of the bullpen, it gives manager Ron Washington even less confidence to keep giving him the ball with the game on the line.

Rangers Interested in Brett Myers?

Not only are the Texas Rangers looking to bring in a name or two to solidify their bullpen but they're also looking at bringing in a proven starter to add to their rotation.

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Young left handers Matt Harrison and Derek Holland have struggled and some wonder if these two pitchers can continue to be trusted in the rotation down the stretch. Maybe one or both would be better off helping the team out of the bullpen?

Holland has that experience and has proven to be a solid reliever with exception to his problems during the playoffs. Pitching one inning is a lot different than trying to go five, six, or seven innings and anywhere from 90 to 100 pitches.

One of the names that has surfaced is Houston Astros right hander, Brett Myers. He was a name a lot of teams were interested in after a 14-8 record and a 3.14 ERA with the Astros last season. However, Myers has not had the same kind of success in 2011.

In 16 starts, Myers is 3-6 with a 4.65 ERA and has given up two or more runs in each of his last four starts including giving up five runs over six innings against the St. Louis Cardinals back on June 7th.

He definitely brings a veteran presence to the rotation and a guy who can take the ball every fifth day and will battle from start to finish.

He's not a guy who will be on and off the disabled list throughout the season and he's someone who could be a solid No. 2 starter behind C.J. Wilson and in front of Alexi Ogando. The way Colby Lewis is throwing right now and with Tommy Hunter due back, you'd have a solid rotation from top to bottom.

Texas Rangers Notes: Bullpen Trade Options

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The Texas Rangers are in desperate need of fixing their bullpen. If Wednesday night's debacle wasn't enough for Ranger fans to begin scouring the internet for rumors of possible trades, I don't know what kind of meltdown it would actually take for panic to finally set in.

We know all the talk surrounding Neftali Feliz making the move from the team's closer to the starting rotation. The Rangers did not see enough of him during spring training to believe he could successfully make the transition.

Now, after blowing a two-run lead in the ninth inning against the Houston Astros on Wednesday, general manager Jon Daniels and CEO Nolan Ryan may need to kick start conversations with teams around Major League Baseball to see who is available.

With that in mind, here is a look at some of the bullpen names who could be mentioned in connection with Texas from now until the trade deadline at the end of July.

Heath Bell (Padres) - 2-3, 19 Saves, 2.70 ERA

San Diego Padres' closer Heath Bell is a name that came up immediately after Feliz blew the save for the Rangers on Wednesday night. But his name has come up long before that.

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It's common knowledge that the Padres are going to make him available at the deadline as the team will not be able to afford what Bell will ask for in free agency.

I talked to a source last week who told me the Rangers had met with Padres' brass at Petco Park about a month ago. Though they couldn't say if names were exchanged, one has to believe the likes of Bell as well as Adams were probably brought up in conversation.

As for what Bell might cost the Rangers? A few names I've been told are minor league shortstop Jurickson Profar and possibly reserve outfielder David Murphy. With rumors the Padres could trade outfielder Ryan Ludwick at the deadline, bringing in another veteran outfielder makes little sense in this scenario.

Mike Adams (Padres) - 2-1, 1.35 ERA


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While Heath Bell would be a great addition to the Rangers, San Diego Padres' set up man Mike Adams might be an even better option.

The soon to be 33-year told right hander has allowed just five earned runs 33.1 innings pitched and has given up just one run in his last nine innings.

Though he's only a year younger than Bell, Adams is the one who has ties to Texas. He was born in Corpus Christi and attended Texas A&M-Kingsville. A trade back to Texas would bring the native son home to an area he grew up in and close to family he still has in the state.

The Padres are less likely to give up Adams especially since he's under team control through the 2012 season. He would also cost the Rangers more in return than Bell would.

All that being said, he's shown just how dominant of a reliever he can be. Say what you want about pitching at Petco Park, where he sports a 1.06 ERA and holding opposing hitters to a .138 batting average, Adams has a 1.65 ERA away from Petco and is holding opposing hitters to a .155 batting average.

Joel Hanrahan (Pirates) - 0-1, 20 Saves, 1.31 ERA

According to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune, the Texas Rangers had apparently contacted the Pittsburgh Pirates in late May about their closer, Joel Hanrahan.

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At the time, the conversation did not go anywhere as the Pirates were not willing to talk about any deals regarding Hanrahan.

He's been solid all season long and has yet to blow a save. He's only given up two earned runs over his last 20.1 innings pitched. Pittsburgh isn't exactly a pitcher's park so give the soon to be 30-year old right hander credit. He's arguably one of the biggest reasons the Pirates are only three games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central.

Hanrahan sports a 1.42 ERA at home and has held opposing hitters to a .194 batting average. On the road he's even better. He holds a 1.17 road ERA with a .218 batting average against.

Francisco Rodriguez (Mets) - 1-2, 19 Saves, 3.34 ERA

There was a time where I would almost beg for a guy like 29-year old Francisco Rodriguez. This is a young reliever who burst onto the Major League Baseball scene with the then Anaheim Angels during their World Series run. He was the young kid who made Derek Jeter and other New York Yankee hitters look like little leaguers at the plate.

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His fastball was in the upper 90's with a breaking ball that was absolutely unhittable.

After his trade to the New York Mets, and drama involving his arrest for assaulting his father-in-law last year, he just hasn't been the same dominant closer that he had been in the past.

Rodriguez has blown each of his last two saves and has given up eight earned runs in his last 10 innings pitched. If he's struggling in the NL East, how are things going to go for him in the American League especially in a hitter's park?

Kerry Wood (Cubs) - 1-3, 2.25 ERA

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Kerry Wood is one of those relievers the Rangers would love to bring in. He's currently on the 15-day disabled list with a blister on his right index finger but that shouldn't keep teams from inquiring about his availability.

Wood's career took a big turn for the better in 2010 as a member of the New York Yankees. The right hander was 2-0 with an astounding 0.69 ERA allowing just two earned runs in 24 appearances with the Bronx Bombers.

His experience in one of the toughest divisions in baseball, the AL East, will make him a very sought after commodity at the trade deadline.

With things not going so well for the Chicago Cubs, Wood could definitely be just one of several players on the trade block.

Grant Balfour (A's) - 4-1, 2 Saves, 2.48 ERA

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Oakland A's flamethrower, Grant Balfour, could be one of the more interesting names as the trade deadline approaches.

While the A's aren't waving the white flag of surrender on a very weak AL West division, they could very well do just that if they continue to slip further and further behind the Seattle Mariners and front-runner Texas Rangers.

In 2010, Balfour showed the kind of dominance he could bring with the Tampa Bay Rays. He had 57 relief appearances (55.1 IP) he had a 2.28 ERA and held opposing hitters to a .216 batting average. He was signed by the Oakland A's during the off season and has been just as dominant in 2011 as he was last season.

This season, in 33 relief appearances (32.2 IP), Balfour has a 2.48 ERA and holding hitters to a .198 batting average.


Best of the rest:

Sean Marshall (Cubs)
Todd Coffey (Nationals)
Joakim Soria (Royals)
Tyler Clippard (Nationals)
Kevin Gregg (Orioles)

Texas Rangers Notes: Ogando, Kazmir, Bell, Scheppers, Webb

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Alexi Ogando the Hard Luck Loser

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You can't blame Alexi Ogando for what happened on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves. He did exactly what he was supposed to do.

Thanks to two mental lapses by catcher Yorvit Torrealba, and a wild pitch by Ogando, the Braves were able to get three runs that inning which ended up making the difference in a 4-2 Atlanta win.

Ogando went five innings and gave up three runs though only one was earned. The only reason Ron Washington didn't go with Ogando into the sixth inning was because he was already at 105 pitches after he finished the fifth inning.

After a 7-0 start for Ogando, he's come up with losses in each of his last two decisions.

Rangers Interested in Scott Kazmir

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After the Los Angeles Angels released pitcher Scott Kazmir, you knew there were going to be more than a few teams who were going to show interest in signing him. Especially since he could be had for cheap.

According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Texas Rangers are apparently one of those teams showing their interest. The other four teams, Cafardo says, are the Padres, Rockies, Marlins, and Diamondbacks.

Heath Bell Could be on Rangers' Radar

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According to a source I spoke to over the weekend, the Rangers apparently met with the Padres' brass at Petco Park three weeks ago. Though they couldn't say what was talked about, you have to believe the Rangers are showing interest in some of the San Diego relievers.

ESPN's Buster Olney talked about the Padres trade of their closer on Twitter saying "I'd bet that the Padres' sweep, at the hands of the Twins, will accelerate their decision-making on when to trade Heath Bell. It makes sense."

Olney went on to say, "The sooner that the Padres trade Bell, the more than can ask for -- certainly more than if they wait until July 31 deadline."

Tanner Scheppers Dominates

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The Texas Rangers officially re-activated one of their top pitching prospects, Tanner Scheppers, and sent him to the bullpen of the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders. Though two innings, Scheppers looked nothing short of dominant.

Through two innings of relief, the young right hander didn't give up a single hit, struck out four, and has his fastball up around the mid-90's.

While he was expected to be a starter, his domination out of the bullpen could have him seeing the big leagues sooner rather than later.

However, it's going to be awhile before he moves himself back up to Triple-A Round Rock, which is where he was before he went to the disabled list back in late April. Rangers' general manager Jon Daniels has already been quoted as saying they want to make Scheppers prove he's ready to move himself up to the next level.

Things Could Not be Worse for Brandon Webb

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I don't know if Brandon Webb is going to make it back to the big leagues let alone make it out of Double-A.

Webb made the start for the Frisco RoughRiders on Sunday and couldn't have looked any worse. The right hander lasted just two-thirds of an inning, giving up four runs on six hits before being taken out with two outs in the very first inning.

You have to wonder just how much longer the Rangers are going to wait for him to come around. From the way things have looked, I don't know if things will ever 'come around' for him.

Texas Rangers Notes: Lewis, Matthews, Cone, Rodriguez, Scheppers

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Colby Lewis Finally Gets it Right

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Texas Rangers' right hander Colby Lewis couldn't have picked a better time to finally have a good outing for his team.

After giving up 15 earned runs in his last two combined starts (4.2 IP), Lewis came out and had a solid outing against the Atlanta Braves, giving up just two runs and striking out 10 through six and two-third innings in a 6-2 Rangers' win. A win this team desperately needed after dropping seven of their last nine going into Friday night's game.

This is the kind of start Lewis needs to be able to carry a little bit of momentum and confidence into his next outing which will likely come at home against the Houston Astros next week.

Rangers Sign Both First Round Picks

On Friday afternoon, the Texas Rangers made the announcement they had reached an agreement with their two first round draft picks, right hander Kevin Matthews and outfielder Zach Cone.

Matthews, a right hander from Richmon Hill High School in Georgia. Thought to be a solid commit to the University of Virginia, word quickly spread that Matthews had every intention of signing with the team. He made good on those rumors, signing for $936,000 and will report to the Arizona Rookie League.

The other first round pick the team was able to sign on Friday was former Georgia Bulldog outfielder, Zach Cone. You might remember Cone was involved in a collision with teammate Johnathan Taylor on March 6th that left Taylor partially paralyzed with a broken neck.

Not only did the Rangers draft Cone but they also surprised Taylor by drafting him as well. Cone signed on Friday for $873,000 and will report to Class A Spokane.



Francisco Rodriguez a Possible Target



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It's well known the Rangers will be one of those teams looking to add pitching depth at or before the trade deadline at the end of July. With that date quickly approaching, the list of names this team could be interested in has grown by the day.



We have heard the likes of San Diego Padres' closer Heath Bell, Washington Nationals' relievers Todd Coffey and Tyler Clippard, and Kansas City Royals' closer Joakim Soria just to name a few.

But one other name who has been mentioned is former Los Angels Angels' and current New York Mets' closer, Francisco Rodriguez. You might know Rodriguez as the young star with the Angels who came in to a game against the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series and made them look like little leaguers at the plate.



Rodriguez is currently 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA and 19 saves on the season but has given up almost as many runs this season (12) as he gave up all of last season (14).

Tanner Scheppers Re-Activated



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Though the Rangers will look for bullpen help as well as another starter at the trade deadline, they may not have to look any further than their own minor league system for a pitcher who can make an immediate impact.

Tanner Scheppers is one of the top pitching prospects in the Rangers system and had been just one move away from the big leagues at Triple-A Round Rock.

Unfortunately, Scheppers struggled before going on the disabled list with a back injury.

On Friday, the young right hander was re-activated by the team and sent to Double-A Frisco to join the RoughRidgers' bullpen. According to general manager Jon Daniels, it might be awhile before Scheppers makes his way up the ladder again. "Coming off the injury, we want Tanner to get his routine down before we challenge him at a higher level," he told Jeff Wilson of the Star Telegram.

Texas Rangers Notes: C.J. Wilson, Torrealba, Soria, Wood

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C.J. Wilson sets a career high


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The Texas Rangers are reeling, losing seven of their last nine games including getting swept by the New York Yankees over the last three games.

One bright spot from that series was starter C.J. Wilson who set a career high with 129 pitches through eight solid innings of work. Wilson gave up just two runs on seven hits and struck out 10. He is showing why the Rangers believed him when he said he could take the role of the staff 'ace' when Cliff Lee departed for Philadelphia.

Through 15 starts, Wilson sports a 7-3 record with a 3.03 ERA.

Torrealba calls out the New York Yankees

Rangers catcher Yorvit Torrealba apparently had a problem with Yankee hitters Andruw Jones and Mark Teixeira, accusing both of stealing signs.


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Torrealba got into it with Jones during the fifth inning on Wednesday night and apparently said something to Teixeira during his at bat one night earlier. Both took exception to Torrealba's accusation, naturally, and even Jones said it was a little bit of sour grapes on Torrealba's part.

While stealing signs isn't illegal it is something teams take exception to if it's being done. There have been plenty of games where you'll hear a comment from a catcher or see a verbal altercation over this kind of issue.

Hitters should be good enough to figure a pitcher out without the "tipping" help of a runner on second base

Texas Rangers searching for help

The Rangers need help in their bullpen and they need it soon. Even general manager Jon Daniels recently admitted as much. "It's something that we're open to, but it's easier said than done," Daniels told T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. "There are not a lot of clubs eager to move quality arms right now. We've got to be able to address it right now."


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Asked about their combined 4.52 bullpen ERA Daniels said, "it hasn't been as effective as we need it to be. We haven't hit our stride yet. It would help if a couple of guys come back healthy, but we need to be more consistent. The bottom line is it needs to be better."

One name Sullivan talked about in his column on Thursday is Kansas City Royals' reliever, Joakim Soria. Earlier in the season he would have been an expensive reliever to acquire. However, thanks to his recent struggles, including a string of three blown saves in four appearances, he may not have quite the price tag at this point.

However, he has not given up a run in his last six appearances (8 IP) so that price may be going up.

A few other names mentioned by Sullivan were Chicago Cubs' reliever Kerry Wood, San Diego Padres' closer Heath Bell, Washington Nationals' relievers Todd Coffey and Tyler Clippard, and Baltimore Orioles' relievers Koji Uehara, Jim Johnson and Kevin Gregg.

Texas Rangers Notes: Chris Davis, Julio Borbon, Todd Coffey, Padres, Nationals

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With the trade deadline just under two months away, the trade talks and rumors will begin to get hot and heavy through just about every online baseball site there is.

For the Texas Rangers, they are in need of bullpen help and Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports covers just that topic today in his column.


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For those of you who have checked in on my blog for my thoughts on the Rangers and who they should use as trade bait, you know one name I've thrown out is reserve first baseman Chris Davis. As of right now he is expendable and one place I've mentioned as a possible landing spot is with the offensively starved, San Diego Padres.

It's well known that the Padres will be willing to listen to trade offers for a few of their relievers including closer Heath Bell and set up man Mike Adams. If Texas can shore up their bullpen at or before the deadline, they will be a tough team to beat in the American League.

Another candidate that Rosenthal talks about is outfielder, Julio Borbon, who the team sent down to Triple-A Round Rock due to the surprising success of Endy Chavez who has been on an absolute tear as of late. He had eight hits in 12 at bats against the Cleveland Indians and is 13-of-26 in his last six games.

If this continues, and with the depth the Rangers have in the outfield, they are in the position to be able to trade Borbon to a team who needs depth at the position.

According to Rosenthal, the Rangers have been interested in Washington Nationals' reliever Todd Coffey and he says Borbon could be a good piece to use in a deal.

Texas Rangers: For Whom the Heath Bell Tolls

Josh Hamilton has returned and so has Nelson Cruz, but there are still questions surrounding the Texas Rangers and most of them center around the bullpen.

Lately, the one name who has been talked about is San Diego Padres' closer Heath Bell. You might remember me talking about this exact scenario and the players who the Padres might be interested in. Apparently that interest has led the Rangers to call San Diego and inquire about Bell's availability.

According to CBS Sports' Scott Miller, the Rangers are "simply checking their options" as they have also talked to the Pittsburgh Pirates about their closer, Joel Hanrahan. While Bell says he would love to stay in San Diego he also realizes that baseball is a business.



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"I'll give it everything I have for the Padres until the team says otherwise," Bell told the media. "Until Jed [Hoyer, Padres general manager] tells me I'm no longer a San Diego Padre."

The sources I spoke to in early May through out a few possible names the Padres could ask for. One of which seems to intrigue at least a few Padre fans.

Bell signed a one-year $7.5 million contract with the Padres before the beginning of the 2011 season in order to avoid arbitration. To some this might look like another "Cliff Lee trade" when the Rangers sent another infield prospect, Justin Smoak, to the Mariners in return for the ace left-hander.

Lee skipped town as a free agent after the season ended, the same might be said for Heath Bell as he will become a free agent after this season concludes. Dealing away another infield prospect, this time shortstop Jurickson Profar, might come back to bite the team again if Bell heads to greener pastures.

At this point, Profar is blocked by the likes of current shortstop Elvis Andrus and second baseman Ian Kinsler not to mentioned long time Ranger, Michael Young. However, Kinsler is a free agent after the 2013 season and one has to wonder if he will be the team's next Michael Young or if the Rangers will not be willing to give him a long term deal.

Whatever the case may be the Rangers need to solidify their bullpen if they are going to stay in front in the American League's Western Division and make another deep run in the playoffs.

We are just over two months away from the trade deadline but the longer Texas waits to make a deal, the more teams will become involved for Bell. Though you might say the longer they wait there might be more relief pitchers who become available who won't require big time money as free agents.

The Rangers, as of May 28th, are tied with the Los Angeles Angels for first place in the AL West and have tread water to this point. As for the Padres, they currently sit 10 games below .500 and eight games back of NL West leading San Francisco Giants.

While eight games is not completely out of the race, the way this team is built, I don't see them making a move at the deadline to get themselves back into the race. They just don't have the pieces available to chase down the Giants or the Arizona Diamondbacks for that matter.

Rangers' general manager Jon Daniels is taking a wait and see approach to his ballclub and will wait for the perfect deal before he pulls the trigger.

If I'm Daniels, I would keep my radar squarely fixed on Heath Bell and be ready to pull the trigger when San Diego finally waves the white flag of surrender.


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Heath Bell Could be a Permanent Fix to the Texas Rangers' Bullpen

 The Texas Rangers are struggling and it's not just with the rotation, the bullpen has had their problems as well and not just since outfielder Josh Hamilton went down with an injury.

You will hear a lot of the sports talk radio shows talking about how to fix this team and how to "right the ship." We can talk about trades and we can talk about the return of Tommy Hunter and Neftali Feliz. While those two players are great to have back, the Rangers are still waiting for some sort of good news from Brandon Webb who does not look any closer to joining the team.

So how does this team patch up the holes in what seems like a sinking ship? There are a few names we can talk about and some may be a little more far fetched than others.

Let's start with Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon. It's not the first time the young reliever's name has come up in trade rumors and it wouldn't be the first time the Red Sox would explore trading him. They aren't off to the kind of start they were hoping for and if their struggles continue maybe they might actually look more seriously at dealing Papelbon for the right return of young minor leaguers.

Another name that could be explored is Kansas City Royals' reliever Joakim Soria. The 27-year old was the only bright spot for the Royals last year, closing out 43 or his 46 save chances last season and finishing the season with a 1.78 ERA in 2010. He was a big name on the rumor sheets not only at the deadline last year but also during this past off season. The Royals weren't able to get a deal done but that doesn't mean they won't be approached again in July.

But if you want a name who can come in and bring the confidence this bullpen needs, look no further than San Diego Padres' closer Heath Bell.

For those of you who love the game of baseball, you know all about this guy. The guy that sprints in from the bullpen and the guy who gets fired up every time he closes out a game. His fiery attitude and closer's mentality is exactly the kind of guy the Texas Rangers need and they need it sooner rather than later.

I talked to two different sources about the possibility of the Rangers going after Bell and what the Padres might ask for in return.

My first assumption was that the Rangers would need to include Michael Young, Chris Davis, and/or star minor league pitcher Tanner Scheppers. But when I talked to these two sources, neither of them brought up any of the three aforementioned names.

So what would the Rangers need to give up to land the Padres' closer? How about outfielder Engle Beltre,left hander Michael Kirkman, shortstop Jurickson Profar, and as one source told me "a David Murphy type player." A four-for-one deal to bring in a guy the Rangers desperately need.

Here is the problem as it stands in early May. Another source close to the Padres told me San Diego would not trade Bell this early in the season no matter how badly the team is struggling right now.

While they might be right because we do not see a lot of trades this early in the season, the Padres aren't going anywhere fast and they know they have little to no chance of retaining Bell for the long term. If general manager Jed Hoyer knows he can get three young minor leaguers and one other player who could possibly have some big league experience already, do you think he pulls the trigger on that deal?

Bringing in another closer to the team does bring up one problem. Does Feliz remain the team's closer or does that allow the Rangers to transition him to the starting rotation? Something which was talked about during spring training. I wasn't a fan of that move when it was being discussed and there is a part of me that still isn't in favor of it.

However, with the rotation struggling like it is, the Rangers may need to bring this idea back to the forefront once more. It's not going to be a popular decision and as of right now it's not a decision that is going to be given any thought at all. Just don't count out the fact it might be brought into the conversation prior to the trade deadline in July.

The American League West is not the strongest division in baseball and there isn't one team among it who can run away with it this early in the season. It is what has allowed this team to struggle and not already be more than 10 games back of the Los Angeles Angels.

But if they do not do something soon to put the pieces back together and bring back the swagger this team had after winning the American League Championship over the New York Yankees, it could spell disaster for a team who is expected to have the same kind of success as they did in 2010.

Manager Ron Washington, general manager Jon Daniels, and owner Nolan Ryan have to be looking at their options. When they do, the name Heath Bell will come up more times than one. There's no panic in Arlington just yet but they can't wait too long to decide the best course of action.


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Eric Patterson Acquired by the San Diego Padres?

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Update: 2:15pm CST - Patterson is the "player to be named later" in the Adrian Gonzalez deal according to Dan Hayes of the North County Times.

According to Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports, the San Diego Padres have acquired outfielder Eric Patterson from the Boston Red Sox.

There's been no confirmation from either side as of yet nor is there any indication what other players could be involved in the deal.

Patterson hit .226 for the Red Sox last season in just 84 at bats.

Baltimore Orioles Close to a Deal For Adam LaRoche?

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The Baltimore Orioles look to be close to bringing in first baseman Adam LaRoche according to Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse.

 The Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres were also said to be interested but it looks like both of those teams will be the losers in this one.

LaRoche played his 2010 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks hitting .261 with 25 HR and 100 RBI.

Was It Werth It?: Jayson Werth's Deal Is Just The Start of Big Time Contracts

 

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Jayson Werth, Carl Crawford would love to give you a hug or at least send you a 'Thank You' card because what you did for his new contract isn't something he can put into words.

Although, the stupidity of the Washington Nationals should be worth something to Crawford as well because if it wasn't for the team in the nation's capital, Crawford wouldn't be looking at nearly the amount of money that he'll command now.

We found out over the weekend that the Nationals had signed the former Philadelphia Phillies' outfielder to a seven-year $126 million contract. The most surprising thing about this deal was the fact that it was kept almost silent. With the social media available these days, that's almost impossible and unheard of.

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Adrian Gonzalez: Very Different Reaction from San Diego, Boston on This Trade

 

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Adrian Gonzalez can now be called a "former San Diego Padre."

Late last night, rumors were on fire that the San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox were close to a deal that would send Gonzalez to the northeast. I was wanting to see if this was more than talk seeing as we went through this same kind of thing this time last year.

As I awoke this morning, I found the rumors to not only be more than talk, but it turned into fact a few hours ago. The Padres had dealt their All-Star first baseman to the Boston Red Sox.

What was unclear, at least to me at the time, what players were going to be involved in the deal. For a guy like Gonzalez, I figured they would be getting some big time talent back in the deal, guys that would make an immediate impact on the team in 2011. Right?

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San Diego Chargers: A New Stadium Will Do More Than Keep the Team in San Diego

 

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In November of 1998, Proposition C was passed by the city of San Diego to build a brand new downtown ballpark for the San Diego Padres. It would eventually cost $450 million, 17 lawsuits and a political scandal to build.

Petco Park finally opened in 2004 and has been a huge part of downtown San Diego. It's been given a big face lift complete with high rise hotels, office buildings, and condos. To say the least, the area is no longer the eye sore it used to be.

Not only that but the Gas Lamp District, one of the most popular spots in all of downtown, is one of the most hopping places during the baseball season as well as on the weekends with some of the best restaurants and bars around.

As for the San Diego Chargers, the only other professional sports team in the city, they remain where the Padres used to play. Qualcomm Stadium.

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