With Jordan Lyles the only member of the 2020 Rangers rotation still left, the unit has now become a carnival of rejects from other teams. You've got Mike Foltynewicz, cast off from Atlanta, along with Kolby Allard, who was traded for Chris Martin. Starting today you have former Phillies farm piece Drew Anderson. And recently, working relief and auditioning for a starting spot has been former Dodgers prospect Jharel Cotton.
And the centerpiece of it all is Dane Dunning, the main piece in the trade for Lance Lynn, who could have been backing up Carlos Rodon and Lucas Giolito this season had they not gone for him. Dunning has been decent this year, with a 4 ERA and 93 Ks, but...the weight of the lower-end Rangers team is keeping him from being too impressive so far. He's also injured at the moment, meaning that the Rangers are down to just Jordan Lyles and Kolby Allard as far as viable starting options from the beginning of the season are concerned.
The 'outcasts of other farm systems' concept is also carrying to the rest of the team now. This month, former Dodgers piece D.J. Peters, former A's catcher Jonah Heim, former Pirates backup outfielder Jason Martin and, obviously, former Cardinals prospect Adolis Garcia, have all been contributing in some way. And while the Rangers' own farm system is also contributing, with Yonny Hernandez and Curtis Terry also making it to the bigs this week, it's not exactly spitting out gems quite yet. One of the main issues of the last few years has been the Rangers' lack of real success with their farm pieces, as Ronald Guzman, Joe Palumbo, Leody Taveras and Anderson Tejada have struggled at the major league level. Even the international pieces the Rangers have gone for, like Kohei Arihara and Heyon-jong Yang have been disappointments this year. With Jack Leiter now sitting in the minors, it is worrisome to think about how this could affect the next several years.
With Garcia, Kiner-Falefa and Culberson still there, the Rangers will at least finish with some semblance of dignity, but I have no idea how the next stretch of this team will go. The farm system really has to start producing solid players soon enough.
Coming Tomorrow- Statistically, the best player on the Diamondbacks.
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