Here is what I wrote about the Texas Rangers’ catching situation back in January…
“You know what’s funny? At the end of the 2008 season, the Rangers had Saltalamacchia, Taylor Teagarden, and Gerald Laird on the roster, and everyone, including the Rangers, thought they had a surplus of catching.
Molina is heading to the Lone Star State
The Rangers sent Laird to the Detroit Tigers before the 2009 season. Then Saltalamacchia got hurt, so the Rangers needed a catcher.
The Rangers then went out and brought Ivan Rodriguez back to Texas. Now, if Saltalamacchia’s arm injuries persist, the Rangers might be forced to add another catcher this off-season.
This just proves there is no such thing as a surplus of anything in Major League Baseball. This is why I don’t think the Atlanta Braves should trade Javier Vazquez or Derek Lowe.”
Well, the Rangers didn’t add a catcher in the off-season, but they were forced to add another catcher yesterday. The Rangers acquired catcher Bengie Molina from the San Francisco Giants for reliever Chris Ray and pitching prospect Michael Main.
I kind of like this trade for the Rangers.
Current Ranger catchers Matt Treanor and Max Ramirez have combined to put up a .227/.328/.362 hitting line with seven HR’s. Molina was hitting .257/.312/.332 with two HR’s in 202 AB’s with the Giants this year.
I have to think Molina’s offensive numbers are going to increase moving from the pitching-friendly AT&T Park to the softball hitters paradise otherwise known as Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Plus, hitting is contagious. I also have to think that some of the hot bats in the Ranger lineup will rub off on Molina.
Look, we all know Molina is as slow as molasses and has offensive deficiencies, but all they gave up was Ray and a low-level prospect. Even if Molina contributes to just two wins over the course of the next 85 games, the trade is worth it.
Ray has been serviceable for the Rangers coming out of the bullpen, with a 3.41 ERA, but has a one-to-one strike out to walk ratio (16 a piece) and has struggled in May and June since having a very solid month of April.
The Giants made this trade not for Ray and Main, but to open up the catcher position for Buster Posey full-time. Main was the Rangers’ first round pick in the 2007 draft, but has never made it above High Single-A ball. He had a 3.45 ERA in 15 starts with High-A Bakersfield this season.
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