There’s an old saying that goes “Two things in life are guaranteed: Death and Taxes.” However this season for the Texas Rangers meant that you could add one more to the list: A Drew Smyly loss. Drew was one of four “reclamation” pitchers that the Rangers added in the offseason. The others were Lance Lynn, Shelby Miller and Edinson Volquez. All four were making comebacks from either Tommy John or shoulder surgeries. Texas lost Volquez early in the season with another elbow injury that has landed him on the IL. It’s doubtful if he’ll ever pitch again. Shelby Miller has already been moved to the bullpen. On Wednesday it was announced that Smyly would be moved to the pen as well as a result of recent lackluster performances.

Smyly currently has a 1-5 record with a poor 8.40 ERA and an outrageous 7.66 FIP. He has allowed 42 earned runs in 45 innings. He has allowed four or more earned runs in seven of his eleven starts and has only pitched beyond the fifth inning once. That was his lone win in Anaheim against the Angels where he tossed six innings.

The original plan with signing the four guys was that they were low risk/high reward signings meant to be a stop gap while Texas was in a rebuilding year. Lynn was the only one given a multi-year deal. What wasn’t expected was the early success that the Rangers are having under rookie manager Chris Woodward and the coaches that he brought aboard. Early in the season there was talk of Texas being sellers by the trade deadline with Mike Minor being the big trade chip. Now reports are that the Rangers are inquiring with other teams on young controllable starters.

Now the decision has to be made as to who will get the start in his place. Mike Minor and Lance Lynn are the stalwarts of the starting rotation. Ariel Jurado and Adrian Sampson have come around and are pitching really great as well. For now the Rangers have said that Friday’s game against the Reds would be a bullpen game but they could still possibly give prospect Joe Palumbo another chance. He allowed four runs in four innings in his major league debut last week but he also struck out four while walking nobody.

All we can do is wait and see, but at least the Rangers are making the right moves at the right time.

Until next time, I’ll see you in the cheap seats!