If you've been following the Rangers for even just a few years, the name A.J. Griffin should mean something to you.
Griffin was one of several good, young starters in the A's organization and looked to be a thorn in the side of the Rangers for years to come when Oakland dethroned the Rangers from the top of the AL West in 2012.
Now, he's going to be in Rangers camp on a minor-league deal with the hope of making the big-league roster as a starting pitcher.
Griffin was brought in this winter as one of the Rangers' low-risk fliers they like to take on guys who have been proven but are coming off injuries or just bad seasons. Griffin definitely fits that description.
He will start spring training with no limitations, which is obviously a great sign. Over the past two years with Oakland, Griffin has recovered from Tommy John surgery and a shoulder strain but was 21-11 with a 3.60 ERA in 47 starts with Oakland in 2012-13.
That's some real production, all from a guy who just turned 28 years old and who obviously has a fresh arm. If he could bounce back to his 2012-13 production, it'd be a steal for the Rangers who could plug him in to the middle of their rotation and feel really good about it.