Adam Eaton .......... a Ranger ???

[cheaptrick77]

Rangers checking on Padres' Eaton

 

Sources: Club talking with Padres; deal might include Laird and more

 

(by EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News)

 

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. – If the Rangers want to make a trade for an established big-league pitcher, it's out there for them.

 

Two major league sources said Wednesday the Rangers and San Diego Padres have had multiple discussions about 29-year-old right-hander Adam Eaton. The Padres, who need catching, are believed to be focusing their interests on a package centered around catcher Gerald Laird.

 

For a trade to get done, the Rangers would probably have to include a second player as well. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez, a San Diego native, could also be of interest to the Padres, as could outfielder Laynce Nix.

 

Rangers GM Jon Daniels declined to discuss specific players but has maintained throughout the week that several teams have shown interest in Rangers hitters. He has also said he believes the Rangers can improve their pitching staff via trade.

 

"There are a lot of moving parts out there," said Daniels, who has also discussed outfielders Kevin Mench and Nix, Gonzalez, second baseman Alfonso Soriano and Minor League shortstop Joaquin Arias with other clubs. "We want to improve our club, but we also know we've got a great nucleus of young players."

 

Eaton, who was 11-5 last season while calling pitcher-friendly Petco Park home, is more experienced than other pitchers the Rangers have discussed. Kansas City is willing to deal lefty Jeremy Affeldt, and Toronto may be willing to talk about Brandon League, but neither has made the 131 career starts that Eaton has made.

 

There are significant risks involved with acquiring Eaton, but every pitcher available via trade comes with risks.

 

Eaton is entering his last season of salary-arbitration eligibility and will probably command between $4 million and $5 million. The Rangers could potentially only control him for 2006.

 

Eaton is also injury-prone. He missed seven weeks this season with a strained middle finger on his pitching hand. He has been on the disabled list five times since 2001. As a result, he's never pitched 200 innings in a season.

 

In addition, there is the question of how effective Eaton would be moving from the most extreme pitcher-friendly park in the NL to the most extreme hitter-friendly park in the AL. Last year, Eaton was 8-1 with a 3.46 ERA at Petco Park, but only 3-4 with a 5.09 ERA on the road. For his career, Eaton has a 1.08 ground ball-to-fly-ball ratio, which is another danger sign. Fly balls at Ameriquest Field in Arlington often turn into extra-base hits.

 

"There is a park factor and a league factor involved with anybody we look at," Daniels said. "But a good pitcher is going to be a good pitcher in any league."

 

 

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:nuke: Watch out -- Daniels' last quote in the article is the same thing that was said about Chan Ho Park :wacko:

[shoelessjoelives]

I'm not sure about Eaton. He could be window-dressing on the Ranger calendar.

 

His injured past would afford him many hours for the calendar-shoot.

 

Make him pass the physical and then take out the Lloyds of London form and start filling in the blanks.....just in case history means anything.........:thumbdown:

[Notorious98]

who really cares if he's injury-prone or if he has pitched in the most pitcher-friendly park in the NL......he would still be the best pitcher on the rangers staff if we got him....any pitcher like an adam eaton coming to arlington is a plus for the rangers:dancingbanana:

 

 

i just cant wait till edison volquez, john danks, and thomas diamond are ready to pitch in the big leagues.....then we'll have a chance to make a run the WS:runningdog:

[cheaptrick77]

Originally posted by Notorious98

who really cares if he's injury-prone or if he has pitched in the most pitcher-friendly park in the NL......he would still be the best pitcher on the rangers staff if we got him....any pitcher like an adam eaton coming to arlington is a plus for the rangers

AGAIN -- this is the same logic I heard when Chan Ho Park was signed ... :pinch:

[pirate4]

Sounds good to me.

[BigRocky99]

depends on who they have to give up to give him... certainly not Mouse and the Traps! haha

[gwsoftball]

Eaton has a good moving fastball, which is good for the Rangers. The downside is his big curve that he relies on, which can hang on him.

 

I'm not sold that his injury history is too much of a concern. He's returned from Tommy John surgery and seems to be better off like most pitchers. He had a poor defense backing him last year.

 

If you can give up Gerald Laird and possibly another minor leaguer, than by all means go for it. I wouldn't want to get into the habit of trading out our young position players whenever there's a pitcher out there though, that's where John Hart got into trouble with Park/Poppel/Astacio/etc.

[Guest]

If the Rangers can get off without giving up a lot, I would think Eaton is worth the gamble. Better run support would help him, too.....but then again, this sounds like a Chan Ho Park discussion from 01, too!