Texas Rangers: This is the perfect starting rotation for 2021

Texas Rangers’ 2021 fourth starter: RHP Rick Porcello

This name might surprise a lot of folks, but hear me out.

Right-hander Rick Porcello makes a lot of sense for the Texas Rangers in 2021.

The former AL Cy Young Award winner with the Boston Red Sox in 2016 has struggled mightily since that season, most recently putting up an ugly 5.64 ERA with the New York Mets in 2020.

For context, the 5.64 ERA Porcello posted in 2020 tops that of 2019 Texas Rangers’ free agent signee Jordan Lyles, whose 7.02 ERA was one of the worst figures among qualifying starters in all of baseball.

Even fellow 2019 signee Kyle Gibson posted a hideous 5.35 ERA for Texas in 2020.

And while Gibson and Lyles were both given multi-year contracts, neither of them are exactly the most enticing options for manager Chris Woodward to hand the ball to every fifth day for the Rangers.

Bringing in Rick Porcello could prove to be a smart upside move, as the soon to be 32-year-old profiles as a generally durable hurler who can eat up innings and provide rotation stability.

Additionally, Porcello would only require an inexpensive one year deal, unlike those of Gibson and Lyles, making him an ideal Rangers free agent target.

Porcello would make a solid fourth starter with past pedigree for a non-contending team like Texas who could use some experience in their rotation at a low cost.