Breaking Down The 40-Man Roster Day 2

We continue with the roster breakdown with a look at our 2nd reliever. A strength of last year's club, the bullpen lost Eric Gagne, Akinori Otsuka, Ron Mahay, and Willie Eyre. The Rangers made two signings to help reinforce the pen and maintain the strength of the club. So here is a look at one of those two signings.

Eddie Guardado
LHP
6'0" 225 lbs
Born: 10/02/1970
Opening Day Age: 37

2007 Statistics
Games Pitched: 15
Innings Pitched: 13.2
Record: 0-0
ERA: 7.24
Strikeouts: 8

2008 Prognosis:
In 2003 the Rangers added a 32 year-old, left handed relief pitcher to their team. He was coming off a season in which he pitched 14.2 innings and compiled an 8.59 ERA. In four and a half seasons in Texas' bullpen, this pitcher threw 244 innings and compiled a 3.65 ERA. Ron Mahay (the pitcher just alluded to if you didn't know) was traded to the Atlanta Braves along with Mark Teixeira for 5 Braves prospects. He recently signed with the Kansas City Royals and will turn 37 in June of 2008. Over the same time period, Eddie Guardado has pitched 217.2 innings and compiled a 3.27 ERA. Eddie Guardado is not the same pitcher that saved 140 games for the Twins and Mariners from 2002-2005. However, he is a LHP who has limited lefties to a .631 OPS over the course of his career. He can be the LHP out of the bullpen the Rangers lost when they shipped Mahay out last year. He can also shoulder some of CJ WIlson's former duties should CJ win the closer's job. Guardado also has the ability to fill in as a closer in case of injury or poor performance. The signing of Guardado will also allow the Rangers to get another look at A.J. Murray in a SP role. Murray might have been forced to the pen if the Rangers were short a LHP. The Guardado signing will likely allow Murray to start the year at AAA and allow the Rangers to get a better idea of A.J.'s future role with the club. This seems like the classic "aging, injured veteran" signing that Rangers' fans have become accustomed to. However, this low risk move allows a number of other things to fall into place. There is also the chance Guardado becomes a trading chip a la Eric Gagne in 2007. At the very least "Everday" Eddie should be a good mentor for bullpen arms like CJ Wilson, Joaquin Benoit, and Japanese import Kazuo Fukumori. So welcome to the club Mr. Guardado and feel free to conjure up the 2002-2005 version of yourself at any time.

Tomorrow's "Breakdown" post will feature the one and only CJ Wilson.

photo courtesy of texasrangers.com

Breaking Down The 40-Man Roster Day 1

This is the beginning of the 40-man roster breakdown that will be taking place over the next few weeks. Some days may feature more than one player and players who are involved in trade rumors will be among the last posts. So, without further adieu let the breakdown begin.

Joaquin Benoit
RHP
6'3" 220 lbs
Born: 07/26/1977
Opening Day Age: 30

2007 Statistics
Games Pitched: 70
Innings Pitched: 82.0
Record: 7-4
ERA: 2.85
Strikeouts: 87

2008 Prognosis:
Benoit had the best year of his career in 2007 and finally carved out a niche with the Rangers. After years of high expectations and big disappointments, Benoit settled into a late inning role and thrived. At the end of October 2007, the Rangers inked Benoit to a two-year deal worth $6-million which will keep him in a Rangers uniform through 2009. The 2008 season figures to be an interesting one for Benoit. He will go into Spring Training as a candidate to fill the closer role along with Eddie Guardado, Kazuo Fukumori, and CJ Wilson. Though Wilson seems to be the frontrunner, Benoit showed he has the ability to close following the trade of Eric Gagne last year.

I particularly enjoyed watching Benoit this past year after all the ups and downs his career has seen. Joaquin consistently showed the "stuff" that once made him a big time prospect and that kept him around even when he wasn't succeeding. He has truly honed his skills and worked to become a frontline major league relief pitcher. Whether it be as a setup man or a closer, Benoit has found his home in the Rangers' bullpen.

Tomorrow's "Breakdown Post" will feature Eddie Guardado.

photos courtesy of texasrangers.com