Rangers Set To Add Another Promising But Suspect Arm

Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket is reporting that the Texas Rangers are closing in on a deal with right-handed pitcher Rich Harden.

Harden was 9-9 with a 4.09 ERA in 26 games for the Cubs in 2009. The Cubs did not offer Harden salary arbitration, making him a free agent. Harden made $7 million last season in Chicago.



The Rangers have offered the pitcher a one-year deal for about $7.5 million in the hopes that they can catch lightning in a bottle with a player who, when healthy, is as dominant a pitcher as there is in the game. This however, is certainly not a given as Harden has escaped injury in just one of his seven seasons in the majors.

Harden, has a 50-29 record with a 3.39 ERA in 127 starts but has pitched more than 150 innings just once in his career.

Texas Deals Staff Ace Kevin Millwood To Baltimore For What Amounts To A Bag Of Balls And Some Sunflower Seeds

Ownership uncertainty has resulted in yet another casuality from Texas' suprise 2009 season. The Texas Rangers have reportedly agreed to trade veteran starting pitcher Kevin Millwood and $3 million to the Baltimore Orioles for reliever Chris Ray. The deal is contingent on both clubs seeing medical records of the players involved.

The trade gives the Rangers more financial flexibility -- $8 million when you factor in the close to $1 million that Ray would probably make -- to sign another veteran starting pitcher. The club has high interest in Rich Harden, who is coming off an injury and would be willing to take a one-year deal to show that he's healthy.

The Rangers are also looking for a right-handed bat, a catcher, a utility infielder and relievers to bolster the bullpen. And they came to the winter meetings with about $5 million to spend, so this deal gives them a better chance to fill more holes on a team that club officials expect to be contenders in the American League West in 2010.



Millwood, who turns 35 later this month, earned that vested option after pitching more than 180 innings in 2009. He was 13-10 with a 3.67 ERA in 198 2/3 innings pitched. He did have lower back and gluteus muscle soreness in September but returned to finish the season.

The Rangers signed Millwood to a five-year, $60 million deal before the 2006 season to front their rotation. He won 48 games in four seasons with Texas with a 4.82 ERA, but pitched over 200 innings just once. Millwood had his most wins with Texas in 2006 with 16, and his best ERA came last season at 3.67 (to go along with 13 wins).

Ray was a former closer for the Orioles before surgery to repair ligament damage in his right elbow set him back. He was 0-4 with a 7.27 ERA in 46 appearances in 2009. Ray, 27, has 49 career saves for the Orioles. Ray's best season was 2006, when he sported a 2.73 ERA and had 33 saves.

Pudge Declines Arbitration, Signs Deal With Washington

Ivan Rodriguez and the Washington Nationals have reached a preliminary deal on a $6 million, two-year contract. The deal agreement is subject to catcher passing a physical.

Rodriguez, 38, will fill a major need for the Nationals, backing up catcher Jesus Flores, who is recovering from a serious right shoulder injury. If Flores is not ready for the regular season, Rodriguez will be able to play regularly.

A 14-time All-Star and the 1999 AL MVP, Rodriguez split last season between Houston and Texas. He hit a combined .249 with 10 homers and 47 RBIs.

The Rangers ownership issue has cost the team their first important player of the offseason. More are sure to follow.

Rangers Add An Arm; Feliz To Rotation?

Yesterday afternoon, the Texas Rangers acquired Clay Rapada, a left-handed reliever from Detroit, for cash considerations or a player to be named later.

Rapada is a sidearm pitcher who Texas is hoping will compete for a spot in the bullpen at spring training.

The move appears to be the Rangers' attempt to bolster the relief corps to the point that they could consider moving stud fireballer Neftali Feliz into the starting rotation.



Rapada, 28, appeared in just three games for the Tigers last season and is 3-0 with a 4.94 ERA in 27 1/3 major league innings. He has 21 strikeouts and 18 walks. Last season for Triple-A Toledo, he had a 2.20 ERA against left-handed batters with 23 strikeouts and six walks in 16 1/3 innings. That makes him a candidate for the situational lefty spot in the bullpen, a spot held down by Eddie Guardado. Guardado is expected to retire.

"Rapada's had quality success against left-handed hitters, mostly in the minor leagues," said Rangers GM Jon Daniels, who said Rapada switched from a more conventional pitching motion to a sidearm delivery when he was with the Cubs a few years ago. "Like a lot of guys, he scuffled early on in his career in the big leagues. He'll come in and compete for a spot."

To make roon for Rapada on the 40-man roster, Willie Eyre was outrighted to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Rapada is also an affordable option for the cash-poor Rangers, as he's not arbitration-eligible and would make less than $500,000 if he's on the Opening Day roster.

Steve Buechele Named New Roughriders Skipper

Former Texas Rangers’ third baseman Steve Buechele has been named the new manager at Class AA Frisco Roughriders.

"This is something I really enjoy doing," Buechele said. "I had as much fun going to the ballpark this year as I did as a player. Being home with the family was great but the opportunity to manage opened my eyes to what people told me -- that I would end up being back in the game and enjoying it. I did."



In 2009, Buechele made his managing debut with Class A Bakersfield, leading the Blaze to a playoff berth. He replaces Mike Micucci, who will be the club’s roving field coordinator.

Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 5th round of the 1982 amateur draft, Buechele played eight of his eleven seasons in the majors with the Rangers and was widely considered a gold glove caliber third baseman.

Financial Limitations Loom As Rangers Talk Trade

It has been reported that the Rangers have recently been contacted by the Baltimore Orioles concerning the availability of right-handed starter Kevin Millwood.

The talks between the clubs are not yet considered serious, and Millwood is one of several options that the Orioles are pursuing.

Texas, thanks in part to the development of Scott Feldman, Tommy Hunter, Derek Holland and Neftali Feliz, finds itself in the rare position of being able being able to consider trading starting pitching.



One rumor has Texas considering a trade of Millwood in an effort to clear money off the payroll to sign free agent slugger Jermaine Dye.

However, with the team ownership issue still an albatross around the neck of the franchise, most believe the Rangers would only consider moving Millwood to eliminate or reduce their $12 million commitment to him in 2010.

Millwood went 13-10 with a 3.67 ERA in 31 starts last season.