Quite The Conundrum

For this post let’s assume the Rangers work out a deal with Roy Oswalt. Even if they don’t this post will still make sense giving the current situation the pitching staff is in. How about a 1 year deal worth $8 million with a team option for a second year worth the same amount.

The starting rotation, with this possible signing, will be projected as such:

Oswalt
Holland
Darvish
Lewis
Feliz

With this assortment of pitchers in the bullpen:

Harrison
Ogando
Feldman
Adams
Uehara
Lowe
Adams
Nathan

I’ve heard the FO say that you can never have too much pitching probably a thousand times. I’m starting to disagree slightly.
I understand what they mean in saying it, but at what legnths are they willing to go to have “too much pitching”. With an Oswalt signing Harrison would be the natural selection to slide into a bullpen role, which in my opinion is wrong. Harrison posted a 3.39 ERA in 186 innings pitched and showed a gigantic step forward in his player development as well as his mental development. This is a young pitcher that needs to be starting, preferrably in a Rangers uniform. In 2011, Oswalt posted a very similar ERA, had two stints on the DL, and is 8 years older. Is this risk worth the value he would add? I don’t think so.

Feldman is another concern of mine. There have been rumors of him being on the trade block, of course the Rangers would have to eat some of his $10 million salary. Scott won 17 games in 2009 and was named the Texas Rangers Pitcher of the Year, I think he deserves the chance to try to win a starting job again and I think he will be better served in the rotation. He has recovered from his knee injury and last year we saw him baffle a sneakily good Tampa Bay offense. His hard sinker is well suited for RBiA and he can handle the heat, having pitched there his whole career.

If it were I that will be filling out the lineup card, my rotation would look something like this.

Darvish
Holland
Feldman
Harrison
Feliz

With Ogando ready to spot start for either Darvish or Feliz if they need a day off. My opinion is that this trade talk should be about Colby Lewis, who is a more established veteran, and is not suited for RBiA with his home-run tendancies. I think the above mentioned rotation will fare better than any other, and has the potential to be one of the best in the game. If the Rangers do sign Roy Oswalt, his projected salary will bring the financial belt in a little tighter, and his now mediocre performance would be more of a burden on this excellent young pitching staff more than it would help. What do you think? Until next time, Go Rangers.