Will Ervin Santana Wind up With The Texas Rangers?

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

One of the hot rumors right now is that Ervin Santana might be going to the Texas Rangers. It has also been talked about elsewhere. Everyone from CBS Sports Jon Heyman to the Texas Rangers beat guys have all talked about the possibility. Speaking to the guys on the Hague Sports Podcast on Blog Talk Radio, Anthony Andro said he didn’t see the Texas Rangers pursuing him.

“I don’t think (the chances of the Texas Rangers signing Ervin Santana are) that good. Especially because, well a week ago, maybe, when there was some uncertainty about Matt Harrison, but it looks like Matt Harrison will probably be ready a week or two into the season…and espescially with what we saw from Tommy Hanson and what we say from Colby (Lewis)… both have looked good enough through camp to where you’ve got to have a hope that one if not both of them can make the starting rotation…”

That being said, I never ever put anything past the Texas Rangers front office, even signing Ervin Santana. Jon Daniels and staff seem to be very good at mis-direction and pulling off acquisitions that we as fans and even the media never saw coming. If the Texas Rangers were to announce later this week that they signed Ervin Santana, I would not be shocked in the least bit.

So the rumor out there is that Ervin Santana is not willing to come down on his asking price. According to Jon Heyman, Santana wants a 4 year, $50 million deal.

There is no way that the Texas Rangers are going to be willing to pay Ervin Santana for four years or the $50 million in my opinion, but that does not mean that Daniels still can’t get a deal done with him. Santana has a career ERA of 4.19, and over the last three seasons it has been 3.93. The 31-year-old has been pitching pretty good baseball, but not enough to warrant a 4 year contract in my opinion. If the Texas Rangers can pick him up for a one year $10-12 million deal with an option for a second year, maybe, but I am still not real sold on that. I feel like he will wind up in Baltimore or NY most likely.

Do I think that Ervin Santana will be wearing a Texas Rangers uniform? No, I do not, but I am not always right. I just don’t see the Texas Rangers shelling out the kind of money it will take to get him when their other pitchers seem to be coming around or pitching well so far, and Holland is scheduled to be back around the All-Star Break if not before. So hold tight and enjoy today’s game, and know that this front office will do what is best for the Texas Rangers organization, and I feel like signing Ervin Santana is not what is in their best interest right now.