Rangers Acquire Ross Detwiler from Nationals for Two Minor Leaguers

It was a quiet Winter Meetings in Rangers Land, at least ostensibly, as the only real trade Texas pulled off was netting LHP Ross Detwiler from Washington for 2B Chris Bostick and RHP Abel de los Santos. 

Detwiler will be playing in his age-29 season in 2015, and will be a free agent after the year ends. The #6 overall pick in the 2007 draft, Ross has split about half of his major league service time between the bullpen and rotation, starting in 69 of his 132 career appearances with a 3.82 ERA (4.41 xFIP) in 471 innings. 

He should compete for a spot in the Rangers rotation next season.

I've always liked Detwiler, and think he is a clever pickup being the only player of any consequence the Rangers will be losing is Bostick, whom the club acquired along with Michael Choice from Oakland in the Craig Gentry trade last year. Ross is slated to earn around $3 million in 2015 and, should he log around 120-150 innings in the rotation, could supply a reasonable amount of surplus value as a #4 starter. 

This is a classic buy-low move from Jon Daniels with the hope that Detwiler can produce as a starter in a contract year. Also with this pickup, it sends a pretty clear signal that the Rangers are not done in their search for a #3 starting pitcher.