Texas Rangers could add pitcher Jennings
Source says Rangers are close to deal with veteran right-hander
12:02 AM CST on Friday, January 11, 2008
By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News
egrant@dallasnews.com
The Texas Rangers appear to be closing in on a deal to add veteran right-hander Jason Jennings, a Dallas native, to their starting rotation.
Jennings, who turns 30 in July, visited Rangers officials in Arlington earlier this week as talks grew serious. On Thursday, a source said the sides were close to a deal. The last hurdle may be a physical. Jennings is coming back from a torn elbow tendon that kept him from pitching after August 20 last year.
General manager Jon Daniels acknowledged the club is still looking at pitching depth but declined to comment on Jennings.
Bringing Jennings into the mix could add depth on one level but create more competition on another. Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla are assured spots in the rotation. Brandon McCarthy and Kason Gabbard were expected to pitch in the Nos. 3 and 4 spots, with the fifth spot open.
If Jennings is healthy, it could force McCarthy and Gabbard to compete with rookies Luis Mendoza, Armando Galarraga and A.J. Murray for two spots in the back of the rotation.
Jennings had an awful time last year due to the elbow problems. Tendinitis forced him to the disabled list after two starts. He returned after missing six weeks but was shut down for the season after tearing the elbow tendon in August. He finished the season 2-9 with a 6.45 ERA.
Jennings won 16 games for Colorado in 2002, his first full season in the majors, but he has not had a winning season since then. He was 9-13 with a 3.78 ERA in a career-high 212 innings in 2006.
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