| Michael Gould. 2nd August, 2006 - 6:22 am
 Like much of the trading deadline, there was a lot of talk that never materialized, but still plenty of action. While names like Miguel Tejada, Roy Oswalt, Brad Lidge, Jason Schmidt and Jon Lieber were attached to them on rumor mill, the Rangers quietly picked up two players that could have an impact on their trek towards an AL West division crown.
Kip Wells: A first round draft pick in 1998 out of Baylor, Wells has spent the majority of his career (751.4 innings of his 1020) with the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates. His record of 36-53 doesn’t necessarily reflect his ability to pitch, as his ERA in 4+ seasons with the Bucs is a respectable 4.64 and his Ks/9 is 7.25.
Wells will fill in a spot at the back end of the Rangers rotation that has been filled with rookies and journeyman this year (see the three Johns: Koronka, Rheinecker, and Wasdin). Behind Millwood, Padilla, Eaton, Wells, and Koronka (Wasdin was designated for assignment Monday, Rheinecker was optioned to AAA), the Rangers still have a legitimate shot at winning the division.
Matt Stairs: The ageless Matt Stairs (he’s eligible for the AARP sooner rather than later) gives the Rangers a powerful left-handed bat that can come off the bench or start against lefties. His .238 career average against lefties isn’t great, but it’s better than Hank Blalocks’s woeful .220. His 10 postseason games ranks first on the team now, and his leadership abilities should help a team without an in-game leader.
The acquisition of Stairs immediately impacts Brad Wilkerson’s playing time. Brad’s home run rate is down almost 50% (every 9.1 games) in the last two years than it was during his career year of 2004 (every 5 games). His hitting woes have continued, batting a mere .182 in the second half so far. Wilkerson could find himself on the trading block in the winter should the Rangers be able to sign Carlos Lee to a long-term deal.
For Wells and Stairs, the Rangers gave up minor-league right-handers Jesse Chavez and Jose Diaz, neither of which were considered impact prospects. The Rangers were unable to add a setup man at the deadline, but a deal could still be made. |
