Rangers Gone Green: Recycled Arms Fill Out Texas Roster

I have a distinct memory of heading down to the junkyard as a youngster with my dad to forage for some marginal part for his '79 Chevy pickup. 

The feeling of looking upon acres of twisted steel and broken glass that used to constitute cars and trucks has stuck with me since those days.

Now, I find the sensation rushing back to me every time I set eyes upon the 2008 Texas Rangers' roster—particularly the pitchers.

In this day and age of eco-consciousness and increased importance on recycling, an environmentalist would look kindly upon the Rangers for stocking their roster with pitchers who were headed for baseball's junkyard, their arms and success a distant memory.

With an eternally struggling pitching staff, the team hopes to find some diamonds in the rough by investing in other clubs' rejects and outcasts, the latest being the signing of John Patterson to a minor-league contract.

The Nationals released their 2007 Opening Day starter last after the righty posted a 7.00 ERA and a .317 opponents' average against this spring. Patterson is battling chronic nerve issues in his throwing arm and had surgery in September. He won't be ready for minor league play late April at the earliest, according to the team's Web site.

Patterson stands as a textbook case of untapped potential.

Originally the fifth overall pick by the Expos in 1996, he ended up signing with Arizona and was a heralded prospect for the D-Backs, pitching parts of 2002 and 2003 for them before he was sent back to Montreal in 2004 for Randy Choate.

He continued to show flashes, highlighted by his 2005 campaign in which he went 9-7 in 31 starts, striking out 185 in 193.3 innings with a 3.13 ERA.

But, then, the injury bug bit him and has restricted him to just 15 starts the past two seasons, including an abysmal 1-5 effort last year to go with an ugly 7.47 ERA in seven starts.

Patterson's poor spring was the last straw for the Nats who cut ties with him to move along with their youth movement.

For the Rangers, it's a low-risk move that could pay off later in the year.

I wouldn't count on him having a major effect on the team, but, with pitching being a constant need around Arlington, he'll definitely get a look.

Being a former top-10 pick doesn't hurt, either.

Eddie Guardado's addition to the bullpen differs from Patterson's situation in that he consistently has proved himself at the Major-League level.

Everyday Eddie was a figurehead of the Twins' bullpen from 1995-2003 and racked up most of his 183 career saves in the Twin Cities, eclipsing the 40-save mark twice. Guardado also saw success for two-and-a-half seasons with Seattle.

After being traded to Cincinnati in 2006, Guardado had Tommy John surgery in 2007 and made 15 appearances with a 7.24 ERA before being shut down.

Now, he is believed to be at full-strength and the 37-year-old should provide a solid seventh-inning option for manager Ron Washington while sharing his experience with newly ordained closer C.J. Wilson. Barring further injury issues, he'll play a large role in the Rangers' 'pen.

The signing of Jason Jennings appears to be working out based on the former Rockie and Astro's spring numbers. In four starts and 11.2 innings, Jennings holds a 1.54 ERA and has struck out seven.

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