Seth Rosin acquired by the Texas Rangers

Mar 3, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher

(71) throws to the Oakland Athletics in the fifth inning of their spring training baseball game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas Rangers have acquired Seth Rosin off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The Rangers are continuing to try add depth to their pitching staff with this latest acquisition.

Kind of a surprise: Looking at his spring training numbers make me wonder why the Dodgers let him go.  He’s had a good spring training with an ERA of 1.64 over 4 games/11.0 innings.  He has only allowed 2 walks, has struck out 12 and has an opponents batting average of .227.  If you’ve been following the Rangers this spring training and you compare that to Neftali Feliz, Tommy Hanson or Cory Burns, then that makes this kid look awesome.  It seems the Dodgers let Rosin go because they already had enough pitchers in their bullpen and also the contract obligations around Rosin.

Rule 5 Draft: Rosin seems to be a pitcher the Rangers could us in the bullpen right now.  The Rangers don’t have long to decide what they will do with him.  He was drafted by the Mets during the Rule 5 Draft from the Philadelphia Phillies and was later traded to the Dodgers.  The Rangers have him on their Opening day roster and the decide later before the end of the season, he’ll be offered back for $25,000 to the Philadelphia Phillies.  I would expect to see him get some pitching either against the Quintana Roo Tigers or the Houston Astros before the season begins on Monday.  If the Rangers do cut ties with him before Opening day, he’ll go back on waivers.

No Major League Experience: Seth Rosin hasn’t pitched in any regular season games yet, but it appears that could change soon.  Last season in AA ball he pitched in 23 games/126.2 innings with an ERA of 4.33.  He recorded 96 strike outs and only allowed 35 walks.  The Texas Rangers have plucked Tanner Scheppers and Robbie Ross out of the  pen for roles in the starting rotation.  Now they are looking to plug some holes, especially after Neftali Feliz was unexpectedly sent to the minors.  Rosin could be the guy who steps up and fills that void.  It won’t take long to find out, the Rangers will play three exhibition games starting tonight.