Jim Callis: Michael Main Is The PTBNL

Via Twitter

A baseball source says RHP Michael Main will be the PTBN who goes from Tex to SF in the Bengie Molina trade.
As said before, by myself and others, the Molina trade being acceptable hinged on the player to be named later being a nobody.

Michael Main is not a nobody. He’s a prospect who was highly regarded going in to last season as maybe one of the 100 best in the country (some even arguing the best in the Rangers system). He suffered a down year in 2009, but he’s bounced back in 2010, with a 7.1 K/9, with only a 2.1 BB/9 and a 3.45 ERA.

I just don’t see how you can trade someone with Main’s ceiling for Bengie Molina unless you’re getting absolutely no MLB-caliber production from the catcher spot. Unless the Rangers have completely lost confidence in Main and the difference in handling pitchers between Max Ramirez and Molina is so great it’s worth it.

If this is true, you had better be right, Rangers. Please, please be right.