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***Breaking News*** Rangers trade for Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez


Smoaky

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The greatest catcher and perhaps player in Rangers history, Ivan Rodriguez, is headed back to his original franchise.

 

Multiple sources confirm the Rangers have traded with the Astros to bring Pudge back to Arlington.

 

Details of the trade are unconfirmed, but this was a necessity with the injury to Saltalamacchia.

 

David Smoak

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This is great on so many different levels. Still one of the most popular Rangers of all time and he can still play good baseball. Finish your HOF career where it started Pudge and welcome home if this happens!

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Rangers trade for catcher Pudge Rodriguez

12:00 PM Tue, Aug 18, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz

Jeff Wilson/Contributor Bio | E-mail | News tips

 

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.

 

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Guest Rednek99

Pudge being back home with the Rangers is fantastic, although I do not see him making enough of an impact to help the Rangers. Maybe leadership in the clubhouse but not on the field.

 

Would have liked to have seen more of Kevin Richardson, although his minor league stats were not great he played a good game last night. Hate to see him shipped back to OKC after that showing.

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I would be tempted to keep Richardson as an emergency catcher and release Andruw Jones. Pudge could hit in the middle of the lineup and be a better option than Jones. However, I would very careful not upsetting the team chemistry that has evolved this year.

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I would be tempted to keep Richardson as an emergency catcher and release Andruw Jones. Pudge could hit in the middle of the lineup and be a better option than Jones. However, I would very careful not upsetting the team chemistry that has evolved this year.

Pudge's batting average is 29 points higher than Jones but Jones has more than twice as many homeruns (17-8) and more RBI (40-34) in 87 less at-bats. I don't see how that makes Pudge a better option in the middle of the lineup than Jones at this point, anyway. I am glad Pudge is back, though. He needs to finish his career as a Ranger.

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The prodigal son returns home! Pudge returns home to finish his HOF career where it started. This is such a great move in so many ways. Pudge will be an excellent mentor to Teagarden (and to Salty too, for that matter), he will be a terrific influence on the young pitchers, and what a PR move! Another drawing card! Plus, he can still play, too! Spell Teagarden once or twice a week and provide veteran leadership from a guy who has playoff experience. This is awesome! If it was up to me, I'd keep Richardson as an emergency/bullpen catcher and go ahead and release Jones. Pudge will only enhance a clubhouse with already perhaps the best chemistry in MLB. Awesome!

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Pudge's batting average is 29 points higher than Jones but Jones has more than twice as many homeruns (17-8) and more RBI (40-34) in 87 less at-bats. I don't see how that makes Pudge a better option in the middle of the lineup than Jones at this point, anyway. I am glad Pudge is back, though. He needs to finish his career as a Ranger.

How many home runs has Jones hit since his 3 in one game? He does not even put the ball in play. We get bases loaded and no outs and have Jones and Murphy up and it is less than 50-50 if we even score. Pudge is hitting over .300 against lefties, get Murphy out of here.

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