The Texas Rangers are heading into the 2014 season with a number of questions after missing the actual playoffs last year after losing in the wild card game and now the team will be without Derek Holland until midseason and that could spark the team to make a trade for David Price or for the team to sign Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka.
The Rangers have long been considered a trade destination for Price, who was being shopped by the rays this offseason and they were also looked at as an option for Tanaka, although reports now have the Yankees, Dodgers and Angels as the final three he is choosing from. According to ESPN.com, the Rangers will be without one of their steadiest pitchers in Derek Holland after he had an accident at his home and now he underwent surgery on his left knee and he will be out until the middle of the season.
Holland was being looked at as the number two starter this season behind Yu Darvish and now all that is out the window and it comes after he made over 30 starts last season and did not miss any during the year. Holland pitched over 200 innings last season and had 189 K's and a 3.42 ERA and while his ACL and MCL were not damaged and now he will miss months into 2014.
Tanaka could be an option to go after, while Price likely could be moved, as the Rays may not have the money to pay him. According to MLB.com, Price filed for arbitration and now the two sides will try and work things out and he still has two years left on his deal.
"I expect we will add some [starting pitching], but I expect it will be more in the depth category than really replacing somebody at the front end of the rotation," Daniels said Friday. "This is an opportunity for a number of our guys."
