Fansided

3 players from the 2021 Texas Rangers failing miserably with other teams

By Seth Carlson |
Jun 12, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Joey Gallo (13) hits an RBI double against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 12, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Joey Gallo (13) hits an RBI double against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
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No one would blame you for wanting to put the 2021 Texas Rangers completely in the rear view mirror.

After that awful season spawned just 60 Ranger wins, there wasn’t much worth remembering about the team, especially not after an active trade deadline sell-off of the best remaining talent on the squad, including Joey Gallo, Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy.

Gibson, now on the Phillies, and Kennedy, back with the Diamondbacks, appear to be doing well with their 2022 teams. But the same can’t be said for these 2021 Texas Rangers.

1. Former Texas Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo is struggling with the Yankees

Big time.

How many times have we heard that Gallo would turn things around once he finally got adjusted to the Bronx and to the “little league ballpark” he calls home? Well, not enough to make it true yet.

It’s been quite the slog for Gallo in 2022, as he’s batting just .184 with a .641 OPS, though he does have eight homers. Even that’s below his normal output. Acquired to be a difference maker in a powerful Yankees lineup, he’s been anything but that so far.

We’ve always known Gallo to be a three true outcomes player, but the extent to which he’s regressed is nothing short of shocking, especially considering Yankee Stadium should be a paradise for his big left-handed swing.

The Texas Rangers have easily won their trade with the Yankees, as Ezequiel Duran, Josh Smith and Glenn Otto have found varying degrees of big league success. A heist, if you will.

Jun 4, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Joely Rodriguez (30) delivers against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 4, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Joely Rodriguez (30) delivers against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Former Texas Rangers reliever Joely Rodriguez is struggling with the Mets

After putting up a 2.13 ERA in 12 games for the Texas Rangers in 2020, Joely Rodriguez entered 2021 as the team’s set-up man for former closer Ian Kennedy. He struggled in that capacity, posting a 5.93 ERA in 31 games for the Rangers in 2021. And yet? He managed to tag along with Joey Gallo to the Yankees last summer.

Rodriguez bounced back with New York, with a 2.84 ERA down the stretch. But after being traded to the crosstown rival Mets this past winter, he has reverted back to his struggling ways. The southpaw has a 5.14 ERA in 2022.

The Rangers probably wouldn’t have much use for a guy like Rodriguez in 2022, and definitely not with the numbers he has to this point, but the fact that Texas was able to shed him last season in that Gallo trade is nothing short of mastery.

Jun 14, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Jordan Lyles (28) pitches to the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Jordan Lyles (28) pitches to the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Former Texas Rangers starter Jordan Lyles is struggling with the Orioles

For a pitcher with a career 5.20 ERA, Jordan Lyles sure does know how to get around.

The Baltimore Orioles are Lyles’ seventh MLB team, and besides a good two-month stint with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019, he just… isn’t good.

In 2022, Lyles has a 5.10 ERA in 13 starts for the O’s, which is downright bad. Last season for the Rangers, he had a similar 5.15 ERA, and an even worse 7.02 ERA during the shortened 2020 season with Texas. He’ll absorb innings and make starts, but only that. It’s all quantity and no quality for the journeyman pitcher, which is only so valuable.

Next. What should the Rangers do at the trade deadline?. dark

The Orioles, of course, aren’t a great team and are behind the Rangers in terms of building back to contention, so Lyles makes sense for Baltimore at this stage. On the contrary, Texas actually has some intriguing rotation pieces like Martin Perez, Dane Dunning and Glenn Otto. If Jon Gray is able to find his footing after early injuries and inconsistency in 2022, he too is an easy upgrade over Lyles.

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