MLB.com reports Rangers president Nolan Ryan confirmed on Wednesday morning that the club is interested in pursuing free-agent pitcher Randy Johnson.
"He comes under the category of Ben Sheets," Ryan said. "It depends on what develops, but, yeah, because of what he brings to the ballclub."
The Rangers met with Sheets and his agent earlier this week. They haven't met with Johnson, but Ryan said general manager Jon Daniels has had conversations with his representatives.
Johnson and Sheets are the two free-agent pitchers whom the Rangers will consider this winter, Ryan said.
Sheets is from Louisiana and lives in Dallas. Johnson lives in Phoenix, but has a long-standing friendship with Ryan dating back to early in his career. Ryan went out of his way to help Johnson turn his career around. Johnson is also close to Mark Connor, the Rangers' former pitching coach who is still with the organization as a consultant.
Johnson, 45, went 11-10 with a 3.91 ERA in 30 starts for the Diamondbacks this past season and struck out 173 batters in 184 innings. The one big concern is that Johnson has been dealing with back issues over the past several years.
He is now 295-160 with a 3.26 ERA in his career with 4,789 strikeouts. Ryan is the all-time leader with 5,714 strikeouts. Johnson is also a 10-time All-Star and has won five Cy Young Awards, and Ryan likes the idea of him coming on board to help mentor the Rangers' young pitchers.
