The Texas Rangers are better equipped to make a deep playoff run today than they were yesterday. And, after all, isn't that the point?
Some people save their pennies for a rainy day. The Rangers, meanwhile, have for years stockpiled one of baseball's best farm systems for a trade day. In acquiring front-line pitcher Matt Garza from the Chicago Cubs, the Rangers loudly re-iterated the philosophy we all want to hear:
Win now. Worry about the future later.
Garza is a stud, a fierce competitor who has been the best pitcher in baseball since June 15 (5-0, 1.24 ERA). He'll make his first start in Arlington tomorrow night against the Yankees and, if all goes well, line up behind Yu Darvish and ahead of Derek Holland in Texas' post-season rotation.
"He's an extremely talented pitcher," said Rangers' GM Jon Daniels. "He's had success in the toughest divisions and the biggest stages. He was throwing the ball as well as anybody right now. He has a power repertoire, who is something that's a little different from what we've got. And he was available. He was, in our opinion, the best guy on the market and we wanted to go out and make a push to get him."
The deal wasn't, however, a slam dunk.
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Garza will be a free agent after the season, meaning the Rangers - like the Anaheim Angels with Zack Greinke last summer - might rent him for 10 starts and then lose him next winter with zero compensation. He's only 2-3 at Rangers Ballpark with a 6.04 ERA, but he did beat Texas in Game 3 of the 2010 ALDS.
And the price is steep. Justin Grimm won eight games for the Rangers the last two seasons. Class A pitcher C.J. Edwards was of the most electric arms in the farm system. And Mike Olt has gold-glove potential at third base and was Texas' best power-hitting minor-league prospect.
That's three players, in exchange for three months. But when you're the Rangers the only goal is winning the World Series. The reward in acquiring Garza is high, and Texas couldn't afford not to take the risk.
Besides, Daniels' July trades have worked in the past. Maybe notsamuch last year with Ryan Dempster, but ...
3. 7.28.06 - Daniels targeted Carlos Lee in the deal that sent Francisco Cordero, Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix to the Milwaukee Brewers, but ultimately it was secondary asset Nelson Cruz that made the trade work.
2. 7.9.10 - Tough to part with top prospects Justin Smoak and Blake Beavan, but not when the return pushed you into your first World Series. Cliff Lee only made 20 starts for the Rangers, but the deal was an epic victory.
1. 7.31.07 - Daniels pulled off the best trade in franchise history, sending free-agent-to-be Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay to the Atlanta Braves for Elvis Andrus, Matt Harrison, Neftali Feliz, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Beau Jones.
I can't see another trade trumping #1 simply because you got the best SS in baseball(defensively) and Nefty was pretty solid for a couple of years. I haven't been a big Harrison fan because I just don't trust him.
ReplyDeleteMight be the best trade in all of DFW sports history. Maybe behind Tractor Traylor-for-Dirk.
DeleteBetter than Herschel Walker to Minnesota? Come on now.
DeleteBill2455
not only did Lee get you to a World Series, Beaven and Smoke have not really panned out. We had no room for Olt really, he was going to get bounced around position wise, but if Garza wins 5 or 6 of his starts and we make the playoffs, what Olt does down the road doesn't matter. Now let's go get a bat, and make that run to October a memorable one
ReplyDeleteAmen.
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