The Rangers are connected today with 4 teams about relievers. At about 8:30 this morning Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the Rangers belonged to one of the teams who contacted the Pirates about David Bednar. Mark Feinsand from MLB.com also reported that the Rangers to the team are interested in Cardinals Flame-throwing Ryan Helsley. Now Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News has reported that the Rangers have conversations with the Colorado Rockies about a trio of relievers they have made available (Jake Bird, Victor Vodnik and Tyler Kinley). As well as Pete Fairbanks from the Tampa Bay Rays also reported by Evan Grant.
David Bednar bednar is an arm that I said the Rangers can focus in my last article. It is not at all surprising to see why the Rangers would be interested in Bednar. He has been good for the Pirates this year, Bednar has an ERA of 2.37 in 38 innings and has not yet blown a rescue this year. Bednar spreads Hitters, which you are looking for in a closer. The Rangers don’t really have a man who excels in hitting Hitters. Robert Garcia has a 9.82 k/9 that is the highest in the bullpen. David Bednar has a 12.08 k/9. The Rangers have a clear need for a bull pen -so that boys can touch. The Pirates want the top 5 -prospect of a team in exchange for Bednar. I would be comfortable to trade one of Kohl Drake or Winston Santos ( #5 and #4 prospects according to MLB pipeline). I wonder if we can get a deal, because the other teams are connected (Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies) to him this morning can give a better package that the Pirates want more. I really hope that we can land David Bednar because he is also a contraction next year.
Ryan Helsley-Helley is an arm that I expect to be connected to the Rangers because he is a “high-end” lever arm. Helsley has one of the highest fastball speeds in the game, the rangers can use something of that. On top of that Ryan Helsley 3.00 ERA this year with a 3.51 FIP. His slider that he has thrown the most this year has been elite, opponents are only 0.092 against it. However, his Fastball was hit pretty hard this year despite the Hoge Velo. Helsley protruded Hitters, he has a 10.25 k/9 this year. He also has 21 saves in the year in 26 opportunities. I have not seen anything that Helsley will cost, but my gamble is the top 5-12 prospect of a team.
Jake Bird-Bird will be a free agent in 2029, which means that he has several years of control. He does have a 4.73 ERA that doesn’t look great, but he has a 3.45 FIP and an Xera of 3.56, so his numbers are better than they show. Bird also does a good job to eliminate batters, he has a 10.46 k/9. Bird has a 5-pitch mix that consists of a wipe machine, zinc shed, curveball, cutter and 4-seam fastball. His wipe machine and his curveball are his best two fields in his arsenal. It is hard to guess what the price tag would be on Bird, and I don’t think I can do that exactly.
Victor Vodnik-Vodnik will become a free agent in 2030, so that the Rangers will have him for a while. This year, Vodnik has an ERA of 3.19 in 31 innings for the Rockies. He has one of the best fastball speed in the game, according to baseball Savant he is 97th percentile in Fastball Velo. However, he is hit hard and he doesn’t get much pursuit, but he does get a good amount of whiffs and strikeouts. Walks are also a problem for Vodnik. Just like his teammate Jake Bird, I have no idea what the prize would be for him.
Tyler Kinley Kinley has a club option for next year and will be a free agent in 2027. He has not had the best figures so far, he has a 4.14 FIP with a 5.66 ERA. Kinley has a 4-pitch mix with a slider, 4-seam Fastball, Curveball and change. His slider is his best throw, but his Fastball is the field that is the most difficult. Opponents hit .319 on the Fastball. He gets a good chase and swing and miss, but again walks are a problem for him. However, Kinley is not hit hard, he is the 97th percentile in hard hit%. Just like his other Rockies teammates, I don’t know exactly the price for him, but I can say that he will not be as expensive as the other two Rockies relieves because he does not have the control they do. Maybe a top 18-30 prospect, that’s my rough gamble.
Pete Fairbanks-Fairbanks similar to Tyler Kinley has a club option next year and will be a free agent in 2027. While I was writing, Evan Grant reported that the Rangers contacted the Tampa Bay Rays about former Ranger Pete Fairbanks. He was exchanged for Nick Solak in 2019. Fairbanks has been closer for the rays this season and the last two seasons. Fairbanks currently has an ERA of 2.75 with a 2.89 FIP in 39.1 innings this year. Pete has been a large strikeout man in the past, but has only closed 7.55 batters per 9 innings, but he has still been productive. This year he has 18 Saves in 21 chances. Fairbanks has the best barrel% in the competition, so it is not stuck, and he has a good Fastball Velo that comes up in the high 90s. He has a mix of 3 pitch with a 4-seam fastball, slider and changes. His fastball and slider have formed the best for him this year, his slider yields an impact average of .132 opponents. My gamble is that the price will be for him about what the asking price of David Bednar, I could be wrong, but that would be my gamble.
It is no secret at all that Chris Young and the Rangers want to add a poet/high lever bullpen arm to this year’s deadline. I am convinced that he will take a step for a bull pen arm. Chris Young also wants to add a right -handed batter.
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