In an ongoing series, we'll take a look at possible free-agent and trade targets for the Texas Rangers this winter.
Target: Justin Masterson, RHP
2014 stats: 7-9, 5.88 ERA, 116 strikeouts, 69 walks, 128 2/3 innings
Masterson has had an up and down career, and his 2014 season was definitely in that "down" category. He was traded from Cleveland to St. Louis as a rental pitcher this season and ended up not even cracking the Cardinals' rotation.
In 2013, he was an all-star. In 2012, he was bad. In 2011, he was great. So 2015 is set to be a stellar year, right? He's got the stuff to do it, and do it big as a big-league pitcher, and who knows, a change a scenery might just do him a lot of good.
Masterson would fall much more into the Rangers' spending plans for this winter than guys like Jon Lester and Max Scherzer, and even James Shields. So if you can get him at a good price, and he does turn things around again, it could be a big coup for the Rangers' front office to fill out their starting rotation.
