Pudge back to Rangers

[JLEW1818]

keep an eye out

[JLEW1818]

The best catcher in the history of the franchise and one of the top in the history of the game is coming back to the Rangers. Sources have confirmed that the Rangers completed a trade Tuesday morning with Houston for Ivan Rodriguez for two minor-leaguers.

Rodriguez was the catcher the last time the Rangers went to the playoffs in 1999. They enter play today with a one-game lead in the wild-card standings. They also have some uncertainty behind the plate.

A source said Rodriguez will serve as the backup for Taylor Teagarden, who has assumed the starting duties with Jarrod Saltalamacchia on the disabled list. Saltalamacchia was placed on the DL on Saturday with arm fatigue and was told today by vascular specialist Dr. Greg Pearl that he has thoracic outlet syndrome.

Saltalamacchia, though, said that he will stretch and rehab the arm over the next few weeks and was told that he could play again this season.

"I'm going to play through it, and hopefully it goes away," Saltalamacchia said. "He [Pearl] thinks that if I stretch it out and do the rehab, there's a chance I can overcome it.

"I don't want my season to end. We're in the hunt, and I want to help out as much as I can."

The Rangers, though, added catching help in Rodriguez, who played for the Rangers from 1991 to 2002. He won 10 Gold Gloves and was the American League MVP in 1999. The Rangers won the AL West title with him behind the plate in 1996, 1998 and 1999.

He signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Astros in March after starring for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. The Rangers are responsible for a prorated portion of the contract, which includes $1.5 million in incentives.

Rodriguez is hitting .251 with eight homers and 34 RBI in 327 at-bats.


http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/08/rangers-trade-for-pudge.html


good for him

[soonerinabilene]

This makes me pleased. Very pleased. Now if they will get smoltz and use him in the bullpen, they will be a serious threat to the Yanks and Angels in the playoffs.

[JLEW1818]

I still don't think they make the playoffs.

[soonerinabilene]

The only two teams playing better than them right now are the yanks and angels. Boston is the only team with a chance to pass them in the Wild Card, but that team is a dead fish right now.

[JLEW1818]

Rays are not out of it

Rangers are too young to finish

[JLEW1818]

in other words the Rangers are "hot" at the wrong time

[soonerinabilene]

Rays are not out of it

Rangers are too young to finish

Funny, cause the Rays are really young, too.

[JLEW1818]

where did the rays go last year? where did the rangers go?


young, but experience

[JLEW1818]

lol if u aint figured it out, I'm an Astros fan.... errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

so i hate the rangers, so i can be bias at times :D

[soonerinabilene]

The Rays went last year with as much youth and experience as the Rangers have this year. And the Rangers are playing really, really, really good baseball after the All Star break for the first time in 10 years, so you will have to excuse my giddiness at the thought of them making it to the ALCS or, if Hamilton and Young keep doing what they have done in August, the World Series.

[JLEW1818]

how many starters on the rangers have been to the playoffs?

I don't think they will go, but if they do, it's not a shock to me, just a surprise

[SCxxSOONER]

I still don't think they make the playoffs.

In the National League they would definitely be a serious contender if their starting rotation holds up, but I dont see them beating out the 2nd place team in AL east for the AL wild card, just not gonna happen....Boston or Tampa Bay will eventually pull ahead and win the wild card.

[Curly Bill]

The Rangers have melted down the last couple of nights. I think Holland wins tonight, but mostly I think it's the beginning of the end for the Rangers.

...and I do consider myself a Ranger fan.

[JLEW1818]

Rangers suck, that's why

they have 3 road series coming up that will crush them