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Three starting pitchers the Texas Rangers should be willing to overspend on

By Travis Koch |
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 25: Matt Harvey #32 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch against the Kansas City Royals at Great American Ball Park on September 25, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 25: Matt Harvey #32 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch against the Kansas City Royals at Great American Ball Park on September 25, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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If the Texas Rangers make any major moves this offseason, they will certainly be geared towards starting pitching. Here are a few SPs Texas should give an extended look.

To the surprise of many, this Texas Rangers offseason is not geared towards a rebuild. The gauge seems to be at the midway point between rebuild mode and aggressive mode. The Rangers could do nothing significant, or they could make a bold move that very few saw coming.

It’s unlikely the front office opts to trade away any of the team’s established young talent. Texas has done a nice job of stocking up on young pitching in recent drafts and they’ll likely continue with that approach in upcoming drafts. If they have good young pitching then it makes sense for them to maintain their good young hitting.

Thus, drifting away from rebuild mode means drifting towards aggressive mode. Starting pitching remains the biggest weakness among the Rangers roster. That is the obvious area to upgrade.

While the SP market is not off the charts this offseason, there are a few arms worthy of serious consideration. Serious consideration, as in a certain willingness to possibly even overspend. Let’s pinpoint those three arms…

PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 03: Matt Harvey #32 of the Cincinnati Reds delivers a pitch in the first inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on September 3, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 03: Matt Harvey #32 of the Cincinnati Reds delivers a pitch in the first inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on September 3, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

Matt Harvey

Harvey had a slight revival in 2018. His 4.94 ERA is a little high for comfort, but he did manage 155 innings over 28 starts. However you want to assess it, there’s no arguing the significance of his 2018 season after he tossed only 92 innings in 2016 and ’17.

His fastball is not what it once was, but the 29-year-old still possesses a wipeout curveball. Harvey’s 7.6 K/9 rate was better than Jake Arrieta, Kevin Gausman and Jon Lester. The biggest concern for the right-hander is his forfeiture of the home run ball. He allowed 27 long balls last season and watched a ball leave the ballpark 1.6 times per nine innings.

That is a general concern, but an even greater concern considering a pitcher friendly Globe Life Park. We do not yet know the dimensions of the soon-to-be erected Globe Life Field, though you’d have to think they’ll be somewhat similar.

It’s also important to note that Harvey has never pitched in the American League, which is known to be the more intimidating of the two leagues (from a pitcher’s standpoint).

Reservations aside, the once pride of New York still has upside. What if he taps back into his 2015 self? The year he posted a 2.71 ERA and fanned 188 batters. That’s not likely to happen again, but even if he comes close to those numbers he’d be one of the better pitchers in the league.

The reality is most teams will look at Matt Harvey as a risk. Therefore, teams will throw one-year offers at him in hopes that they strike gold. What if a team offered him three years? Perhaps at a slightly higher price than what the market dictates?

That’s the Texas Rangers’ cue.

PHOENIX, AZ – AUGUST 21: Starting pitcher Patrick Corbin #46 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on August 21, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – AUGUST 21: Starting pitcher Patrick Corbin #46 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on August 21, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Patrick Corbin

Corbin is the poster boy of the starting pitching free agent class. With that being the case, he’s going to join whichever team at a high price. The lefty had flown under the radar as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ rotation. Zack Greinke stole most of the headlines and Robbie Ray was a popular name after his impressive 2017 campaign.

Though, Corbin emerged as a household name this past season. All it took was 200 innings pitched, 246 strikeouts and a 3.15 ERA. His ERA even triumphed Grienke’s 3.21.

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He’s earned the offseason praise and he’ll earn whatever amount he is granted in the coming months. The Texas Rangers have the funds, and, as timing would have it, they have a very solid overall sales pitch.

They can sell Patrick Corbin on the young talent at the big league level and the minor league levels, of course implying the team will be competitive soon and for a long time. They can sell him on the brand-new ballpark coming in 2020. And, most importantly, they can pitch him on being the ace of the staff. This would be a legitimate promise that not many other teams could make or keep.

Ultimately, the market for Corbin will be too steep. There will be a contending team willing to break the bank on him, just wait and see. The Rangers could overspend based on their budget, but that doesn’t mean they can outspend the Yankees, Nationals or Phillies.

Texas would have to rely heavily on the aforementioned sales pitch.

HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 16: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game Three of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 16, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 16: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game Three of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 16, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Dallas Keuchel

Matching the Rangers’ desires with a player’s desire to join them, Dallas Keuchel seems like a good bet. Keuchel hasn’t said anything about wanting to join the Texas Rangers, but Arlington is a sensible landing spot.

The former Astros’ ace would get to stay in Texas. He’d be closer to where he grew up (Tulsa, OK) and closer to where he attended college (University of Arkansas).

He’d be a great fit for the Rangers. A notorious groundball pitcher who commands the strike zone and brings with him a veteran influence…Texas could do a lot worse. Keuchel would once again be the ace of staff and he wouldn’t be an afterthought like he was with Houston this past season.

Related Story. Texas should focus on Nolan Arenado next offseason. light

He has a Cy Young award and he has a ring. At the age of 31 (by the time the season starts), maybe he’ll be willing to become a leader in a rebuilding clubhouse. It doesn’t seem he’s the first choice of very many teams, so even if the Texas Rangers aren’t his first choice, perhaps he’ll trickle down to them.

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