The Texas Rangers are still in the process of shoring up their roster for the upcoming 2012 season. After losing C.J. Wilson to the Los Angeles Angels and acquiring Japanese star Yu Darvish following a bidding war, the team still has some question marks in their rotation. These questions could be solved with the addition of a free-agent pitcher like Roy Oswalt.
Ben Reiter of Sports Illustrated recently graded the remaining free agents still on the market and evaluated which teams would be the best fit. He not only ranked Oswalt No. 1 overall of the remaining free agents, but paired the hurler up with the Rangers as making the most sense for a destination team. Here's Reiter's take:
After making $16 million in 2011 to be one of the Phillies' "four aces" -- and then only throwing 139 innings due to injury -- Oswalt is reportedly holding out for a one-year, $10 million dollar deal. He might get it, as he is easily the most talented free agent remaining. While the Red Sox have a chance, his favored suitors appear to be last year's World Series participants, the Cardinals -- where he'd rejoin Berkman, his old Astros teammate -- and the Rangers. Even though it seems to have a fully stocked rotation (Colby Lewis, Derek Holland, Yu Darvish, Matt Harrison and Neftali Feliz), Texas might make the most sense, as Oswalt would provide excellent depth should Feliz struggle in his transition from the bullpen, or Darvish in his from Japan.
Oswalt would certainly be a spectacular tool to ease Feliz into his starter role, as well as acting as a mentor for the young pitching staff.
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