Potential Target: Brandon McCarthy

In an ongoing series, we'll take a look at possible free-agent and trade targets for the Texas Rangers this winter.

Target: Brandon McCarthy, RHP

2014 stats: 10-15, 4.05 ERA, 200 innings, 175 strikeouts, 33 walks

See those stats up above? They're pretty average, but they can be thrown out the window as McCarthy did the reverse of the trend by going from a National League team to an American League team midseason and actually performing better in the AL. And he didn't just go to any team, he went to the New York Yankees, whose home park is the biggest joke in the league in terms of ease of leaving the yard for opposing hitters.

As a member of the Yankees in 2014, McCarthy made 14 starts and went 7-5 with a 2.89 ERA. That's impressive. The former Ranger, who could never stay healthy in his three seasons in Texas before going off to Oakland and finding success, is a free agent who would be appealing to bring back as a No. 2/3 starter in 2015.

It sounds like the Yankees will make a big push to re-sign McCarthy, which makes sense considering he found a way to pitch successfully in Yankee Stadium, but make no mistake, the Rangers will be in on their former prospect.

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