Texas Rangers: 5 Left-Handed Bullpen Candidates

Darren Oliver has become the consolation prize for the Toronto Blue Jays after they lost out with their bid to grab Yu Darvish. 

That leaves the Texas Rangers without a reliable left-handed option in the bullpen, although the club is high on the ability of Koji Uehara and Yoshinori Tateyama to get out left-handed hitters.

But with spring training still a couple months out and the Rangers currently working to sign Darvish, they have time to let the market settle and select a lefty they want at the back end of their pen in a late game situation.

Here are five guys you might see out of the 'pen for the Rangers in 2012, likely summoned by Ron Washington to get a lefty out and return to the water cooler. 

Mike Gonzalez

Gonzalez is the obvious choice for the Rangers given their penchant for familiarity with pitchers.

Acquired in a midseason trade from the Baltimore Orioles for RHP Pedro Strop, Gonzalez had some good moments as a Ranger, notably striking out Johnny Damon on three pitches in the ALDS. 

The last time we saw him in a Ranger uniform, he hobbled off the field in Game 7 of the World Series after injuring his leg in the eighth inning.

The team has checked in with agent Scott Boras about the possibility of his return to Texas, and if they can hammer out a deal with the high-priced agent, I wouldn't be surprised to see Gonzalez as the left-handed force out of the 'pen. 

Damaso Marte

For those of you thinking this is crazy talk, consider a this: 

One, Marte is a veteran reliever (he's 37) and is coming off a hefty payday from his three years in a New York Yankee uniform.

Two, and maybe more importantly, he is a two-time World Series champion, pitching in key moments for both the Yankees in 2009 and the Chicago White Sox in 2005.

The Rangers love proven talent, as evidenced with Oliver and Arthur Rhodes last year. If they lose out on Gonzalez to a higher bidder, don't be surprised to see them tender a non-guaranteed or minor league contract to Marte and allow him to pitch his way to the big club for another shot at a title. 

Michael Kirkman

He's young, he's been on the farm since 2005 and the Rangers may feel it's his time to contribute to the big club. 

Kirkman absolutely sizzled during the Rangers' September call-up portion of their 2010 run to the World Series, posting a 1.65 ERA with 16 SO in 16 innings. But he struggled with a full-time gig in 2011, putting up a 6.59 ERA and allowing five home runs in 27 innings of work. 

If the Rangers pass on free agents Gonzalez and Marte, there could very well be open competition at the start of spring training, and Kirkman should be at the top of the list to contribute to a team looking for a third straight AL pennant. 

Miguel De Los Santos

The 23-year-old already has five seasons of minor league ball under his belt, is on the 40-man roster and his strikeouts per nine innings numbers are absolutely ridiculous.

The major knock on de los Santos seems to be his walk total, which got him into trouble at Frisco last season when he allowed 17 en route to a 1-3 record with an 8.04 ERA in his six starts.

Although he has never made it past Double-A Frisco, he should find himself in camp competing for an opportunity to start the year in Arlington or in Round Rock for the Triple-A club.

The Rangers could utilize his strikeout potential in a pinch or during a time when the bullpen has been maxed out on a short week.

Martin Perez

Fans who have heard the Rangers "refuse" to include their 20-year-old top prospect in any trade negotiations will soon learn why.

Martin Perez is one injury or poor pitching performance away from finding himself with the team. And in case you missed it, this kid is 20 years old.

His numbers last year between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock aren't flashy, going 8-6 with a 4.33 ERA in 137 innings. But he has a low home run rate (0.7), a high strikeout rate (7.9) and was blessed with staying healthy for the majority of his minor league career. 

Although Matt Harrison or Colby Lewis will likely move along to prepare for his entry into the rotation in the next few years, his first stint in Texas will be in the bullpen, where guys named Neftali Feliz and C.J. Wilson made names for themselves while waiting for their shot at the rotation.

The Rangers have many directions to ponder with their left-handed relievers, but Perez is the one with the highest ceiling and the one that might be counted on the most down the stretch in 2012.