Target: Bruce Chen, LHP
2013 stats: 9-4, 3.27 ERA, 121 innings, 78 strikeouts with the Kansas City Royals
Chen, a free agent, was a swing man in 2013, which is probably what he's best suited to do as he'll turn 37 this summer. But the guy has made a name for himself for eating up innings and he mad 15 starts for the Royals out of his 34 appearances. For that reason, he would make good sense for the Rangers.
He'd be cheap, even though he's a Scott Boras client. He'd be a natural candidate to shift into the bullpen when Derek Holland returns from his knee surgery sometime this summer (hopefully) and he would give the Rangers a veteran presence both in the clubhouse and on the pitching staff, which is full of young 20-somethings.
Fact is, the Rangers need to make some kind of pitching addition to get a guy to, if nothing else, fill the gap while Holland is out of the rotation. Chen could be a good option due to his versatility and likely staying power when Holland does return, if he does.
