Carl Pavano 'stache Neftali Feliz and Alexi Ogando may or may not be in line for spots in the rotation.
Jamey Newberg's still banging the Josh Johnson drum. Zack Greinke is still in the mix, somewhere.
For those wondering, here's who's left on the free agent market that could attract the Rangers.
(I started to add Vicente Padilla, Kevin Millwood and/or Rich Harden -- Harden and Padilla already getting contracts for California teams -- but it was too cruel.)
Carl Pavano
When he won 18 games for Florida five years ago, I was on the Pavano bandwagon. Then he robbed the Yankees for three seasons. All of a sudden, he's winning 17 games for the Twins in a contract year. I'd avoid the guy. A turd, I think. He eats innings at best and that's what the Rangers want almost more than anything at this point.
Brad Penny
As long as the Rangers have looked for pitching, Penny's been in the rumor mill. Frankly, the dude's fat and I think that's killed his health, which is why he can't get to 100 innings for consecutive seasons. He doesn't take care of himself and it strains his body in an inordinate fashion. Again, avoid like the plague.
Chien-Ming Wang
It shocks me that Wang won 19 games in two straight seasons for the New York Yankees while his strikeout-walk ratio was nearly 1-1. There's a limit to these Asian guys. I think they catch Major Leaguers off guard at first and then their limits are reached and they start getting hit. For every Ichiro there's two dozen Hideki Irabus. Wang's not worth a minor-league deal.
Brandon Webb
If I'm the Rangers, I throw a contract at Webb. He's coming off about eight billion surgeries. He's more like RoboCop than human at this point. He'll be cheap. Still 31, he has time to come back. Plus, he's always been perfect for the Ballpark with his groundball tendencies. Problem is, he's not a lock for a rotation spot or to make 30 starts.
Chris Young/Justin Duchscherer
Two ex-pats who combined for nine starts last season. Would they dare do the retread thing with two injury-prone guys? Two huge risks. Young hasn't been healthy in four years. Duchscherer has one decent half season.
Conclusion:
Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. There's shit left. Pavano's probably the surest bet to give you 180 innings, but he's a wildcard since he's liable to shut down once he gets his money. Or maybe the New York media got to him. The only guy I'd tender a contract to is Webb. Otherwise, I take my chances with C.J. Wilson-Colby Lewis-Tommy Hunter-Neftali Feliz/Alexi Ogando/Derek Holland. Then wait for the Marlins to get 30 games below .500 and trade Johnson.
