Ervin Santana Signs With Braves

Sep 9, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Ervin Santana (54) delivers in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Texas Rangers starting pitcher target Ervin Santana has finally landed with a team, but it was not the Texas Rangers. Santana and the Braves have agreed to a deal, according to ESPN.

"“The Atlanta Braves, who have been ravaged by injuries to their starting rotation this spring, have agreed to a one-year contract with free-agent pitcher Ervin Santana.The deal is worth approximately $14 million, a source told ESPN Deportes’ Enrique Rojas. The Braves announced the deal Wednesday morning on their official Twitter account.”"

Ervin Santana would have been a good addition to a Texas Rangers starting core that seems to be less than exciting at the moment, although Tommy Hanson looked good yesterday. Joe Saunders did not have a particularly good start, but it was not the worst either. He is still getting back into pitching shape and is just a little behind because of how late he joined the team.

Ervin Santana pitched for the Royals last season going 9-10 with a 3.24 ERA. This will be Santana’s first go as a National League pitcher and it is his third team overall. The Texas Rangers will have to move on without Santana, and the hope is that Colby Lewis, Nick Tepesch, Tanner Scheppers or one of the other guys steps up over the next few weeks and asserts themselves as front-runners for the two remaining spots behind Yu Darvish, Martin Perez and Alexi Ogando. The Texas Rangers will have to move on without Ervin Santana, and hopefully two of the pitchers competing for those spots will shine very soon.