The Texas Rangers thought they had a trade in place to acquire third baseman Mike Lowell from the Boston Red Sox, but it now only has a 50-50 chance of happening.
The healthy of Lowell’s right thumb is in question, which is a concern for the Rangers. They don’t want to make the trade until they know that Lowell is completely healthy.
The Rangers believe that Lowell’s thumb may need surgery, in which case it would seem highly unlikely that the deal goes through.
In the trade, the Rangers would send the Red Sox catching prospect Max Ramirez. The Red Sox are currently set at catcher with Victor Martinez and Jason Varitek.
The third baseman is also coming off fairly serious hip surgery, and the Red Sox were concerned that he would no longer have the mobility to play a solid defensive third base.
Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 1:59 pm by steve
The Texas Rangers have signed pitcher Rich Harden to a one-year contract worth $7.5 million.
The move happened because the Rangers were able to trade away Kevin Millwood to the Baltimore Orioles.
That trade opened up a roster spot and spot in the starting rotation as well as $9 million for the deal to be made.
Harden pitched well last year with the Chicago Cubs after being traded from the Oakland Athletics but yet again battled more injury problems.
The Rangers are hopeful that Harden will pitch well and be injury free at the top of their starting rotation.
Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 9:38 am by steve
The Texas Rangers have made their first big move of the offseason by trading pitcher Kevin Millwood to the Baltimore Orioles for reliever Chris Ray.
Millwood has been the workhorse of the staff but the Rangers made the move to help cut payroll.
The veteran will make $12 million this year, but the Rangers will only pay $3 million of that, which they sent to the O’s.
The Rangers would now like to go out and sign a more elite starting pitcher to take Millwood’s spot on the roster.
Ray has been a solid closer at times during his big league career but struggled last year coming back from Tommy John surgery.
at 9:29 am by steve
