Padres lefty Drew Pomeranz has turned some heads with his strong performance on the mound this season, and one team with its neck craned is the Texas Rangers.
According to a report by Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports on Tuesday, the Rangers are showing interest in acquiring Pomeranz, who was just named to this year’s NL All-Star Team.
Sources: #Rangers interested in #Padres All-Star Pomeranz, have done background work on him. TEX has checked on most of available pitching.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 12, 2016
Pomeranz, 27, has been quietly brilliant for San Diego this year with a record of 8-7, a 2.47 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, and 115 strikeouts in 17 starts. The move to a pitcher’s haven in Petco Park has benefited him greatly, but he has been spectacular nonetheless by keeping the walks down and improving his off-speed pitches.
The Rangers, who are leading the AL West with a 54-36 record on the year, might be able to get Pomeranz more run support (his 3.53 average runs of support per start ranks 13th-worst in the MLB amongst qualified starters, per ESPN) to help counteract the move to a more hitter-friendly ballpark. They also have a need in the back-end of their rotation with Yu Darvish, Derek Holland, and Colby Lewis all currently injured.
General manager Jon Daniels has expressed interest in upgrading the team’s bullpen before the August 1 trade deadline as well, so it appears as though the Rangers may be looking to bulk up on pitching depth for the stretch run.
Image Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
H/T Rotoworld
