Report: Rangers Nearing Deal With Derek Lowe

According to Evant Grant of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link), the Rangers are nearing a minor league deal with veteran RHP Derek Lowe.

September 22, 2012; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Derek Lowe (34) throws a pitch during the fifth inning of a game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Lowe, who is 39-years old, represents a cheap fallback option in the wake of Martín Pérez‘s injury. Also, this signifies an opinion that I shared with many others that the Rangers would not pursue free agent RHP Kyle Lohse, unless he came at the Rangers’ given price.

With the signing of Lowe, the Rangers give themselves a potential No. 5 starter who can hypothetically hold the spot until Colby Lewis and/or Martín Pérez return from their stints on the DL.

In terms of performance, I wouldn’t project Lowe to be anything more than a temporary innings-eater. With Lowe in the No. 5 slot in the rotation, it ensures that Justin Grimm will start the season in the minor leagues, which he evidently needs, given his performance in Spring Training thus far. Also, this signing more than likely ensures that LHP Robbie Ross will return to the bullpen in 2013.

Essentially, this low-risk signing will give the Rangers a well-needed fallback option that will also cause very little dominos to fall on the pitching side of things on the roster.