Report: Rangers showing interest in Drew Pomeranz
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
